Skeletal structure-function revisited

Article Abstract:

Osteoporosis has recently been recognized as a debilitating disease that affects many people, particularly the elderly. It is characterized by a progressive loss of bone mass that can cause bones to fracture easily. Early diagnosis can lead to treatment that slows the bone mineral loss and prevents fractures. Presently, bone density measurements are taken with computed tomography (CT), an imaging technique, to identify those patients at risk for fractures. When 30 to 40 percent of bone mass has been lost, the patient is considered at increased risk for fractures. However, many people with this amount of loss do not experience fractures. Thus bone density measurements are useful in diagnosing osteoporosis, but they do not provide a complete picture; other variables are also involved. The quality of the bone, not just the quantity, is important. Bones act as a structural support system for the body which can be modified as the normal loads they encounter change. If changes occur not from changes in load, but from disease, excessive loads can put too much stress on the structure and it can break. Bone distribution plays an important role in the structural strength of the skeletal system. In the June 1991 issue of Radiology, Wehrli and colleagues report on using magnetic resonance (MR) to examine bone distribution; this is a new approach. Information from this technique can be useful when considered along with bone density measurements for identifying those individuals at risk for bone fractures. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Bones, Diagnosis, Composition, Osteoporosis, Skeleton, editorial

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MR findings of cartilage invasion by laryngeal cancer: value in predicting outcome of radiation therapy

Article Abstract:

Radiation therapy is often used in treating cancer of the larynx (voice box). It has been questioned if such therapy is the appropriate treatment when the cancer has invaded surrounding bone and cartilage tissue, because it remains to be proven whether radiation therapy can cure laryngeal cancer once it has spread to these sites. This study examined the effectiveness of radiation therapy in treating laryngeal cancer that had spread to surrounding cartilage. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a technique that uses magnetic properties of tissues to produce images, was performed on 39 patients with laryngeal cancer to examine if and to what extent the cancer had spread to surrounding cartilage. All patients underwent radiation therapy. Patients were followed-up to compare the outcome of therapy with MRI findings. Results from four patients were inadequate and were not used for the study. MRI showed that cancer had spread to cartilage in 16 of 35 patients. Cancer recurred after radiation therapy in 10 of those 16 patients, but only in two of the 19 patients whose MRIs did not reveal cartilage involvement. These results indicate that once laryngeal cancer has spread to surrounding cartilage, radiation therapy is a less effective treatment and surgery may be more appropriate. MRI is useful both in deciding the best treatment and in follow-up after treatment. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Radiotherapy, Laryngeal cancer

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