Bone scintigraphy in patients with pain

Diagnostic Performance of Infrared Thermography, Quantitative Sudomotor Axonal Reflex Testing, and 3-Phase Bone Scintigraphy for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Diagnosis: A Retrospective Observational Study

Purpose

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) diagnosis poses challenges due to the absence of an objective and definitive test. Although laboratory tests such as infrared thermography, quantitative sudomotor axonal reflex testing (QSART), and 3-phase bone scintigraphy have been considered diagnostic aids, their use remains controversial. This retrospective study aimed to elucidate the diagnostic validity and potential value of these modalities for the diagnosis of CRPS.

Patients and Methods

The Budapest criteria were used to diagnose CRPS, and infrared thermography, QSART, and 3-phase bone scintigraphy were performed as ancillary tests. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and measurement of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios.

Results

Of the 41 patients assessed, 26 (63.4%) were diagnosed with CRPS based on these criteria. Among the three tests, only infrared thermography demonstrated significant diagnostic performance (area under the ROC curve, 0.718; 95% confidence interval, 0.569-0.866; p = 0.003). Infrared thermography revealed a positive and negative likelihood ratio of 2.308 and 0.346, respectively, indicating clinically informative results. The three positive results exhibited the highest specificity (0.933) and positive predictive value (0.917).

Conclusion

Among the three laboratory tests for CRPS, infrared thermography was the most useful. QSART and 3-phase bone scintigraphy did not show a significant diagnostic performance; however, combining the results of all three tests may provide additional diagnostic confidence in certain cases.

A brief review of complex regional pain syndrome and current management

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating chronic pain condition that, although exceedingly rare, carries a significant burden for the affected patient population. The complex and ambiguous pathophysiology of this condition further complicates clinical management and therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, being a diagnosis of exclusion requires a diligent workup to ensure an accurate diagnosis and subsequent targeted management. The development of the Budapest diagnostic criteria helped to consolidate existing definitions of CRPS but extensive work remains in identifying the underlying pathways. Currently, two distinct types are identified by the presence (CRPS type 1) or absence (CRPS type 2) of neuronal injury. Current management directed at this disease is broad and growing, ranging from non-invasive modalities such as physical and psychological therapy to more invasive techniques such as dorsal root ganglion stimulation and potentially amputation. Ideal therapeutic interventions are multimodal in nature to address the likely multifactorial pathological development of CRPS. Regardless, a significant need remains for continued studies to elucidate the pathways involved in developing CRPS as well as more robust clinical trials for various treatment modalities.

Bone Scintigraphy in 2 Cases of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

ABSTRACT

A 59-year-old woman was presented to the outpatient clinic with persistent pain after a hyperextension/inversion trauma of the ankle. Six months after the incident, a 3-phase bone scan was performed. A second patient, a 54-year-old man, was referred for a 3-phase bone scan 2 months after his right hand was twisted while using a drill. In both patients, scintigraphy showed diffuse increased uptake in the affected limb in all 3 phases. The x-rays of the affected limbs showed osteopenia. These findings are consistent with (early phase) complex regional pain syndrome.

Biological and Clinical Aspects of Metastatic Spinal Tumors

Simple Summary

Spine metastases are a common life-threatening complication of advanced-stage malignancies and often result in poor prognosis. Symptomatic spine metastases develop in the course of about 10% of malignant neoplasms. Therefore, it is essential for contemporary medicine to understand metastatic processes in order to find appropriate, targeted therapeutic options. Our literature review aimed to describe the up-to-date knowledge about the molecular pathways and biomarkers engaged in the spine’s metastatic processes. Moreover, we described current data regarding bone-targeted treatment, the emerging targeted therapies, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy used for the treatment of spine metastases. We hope that knowledge comprehensively presented in our review will contribute to the development of novel drugs targeting specific biomarkers and pathways. The more we learn about the molecular aspects of cancer metastasis, the easier it will be to look for treatment methods that will allow us to precisely kill tumor cells.

Abstract

Spine metastases are a common life-threatening complication of advanced-stage malignancies and often result in poor prognosis. Symptomatic spine metastases develop in the course of about 10% of malignant neoplasms. Therefore, it is essential for contemporary medicine to understand metastatic processes in order to find appropriate, targeted therapeutic options. Thanks to continuous research, there appears more and more detailed knowledge about cancer and metastasis, but these transformations are extremely complicated, e.g., due to the complexity of reactions, the variety of places where they occur, or the participation of both tumor cells and host cells in these transitions. The right target points in tumor metastasis mechanisms are still being researched; that will help us in the proper diagnosis as well as in finding the right treatment. In this literature review, we described the current knowledge about the molecular pathways and biomarkers engaged in metastatic processes involving the spine. We also presented a current bone-targeted treatment for spine metastases and the emerging therapies targeting the discussed molecular mechanisms.

Glomus Tumor of the Lower Extremity Previously Misdiagnosed as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Close Proximity to a Myxofibrosarcoma: A Case Report

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a potentially devastating condition that can result in severe psychological and social morbidity. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, and other pathologic entities must be ruled out first. Glomus tumors are exquisitely painful benign vascular tumors that are most common in the hand and are rarely found in the lower extremity. Here, we present a case of a patient who developed a focus of severe anterior knee pain and tenderness a few months after a car accident that had been misdiagnosed as CRPS for 15 years. She coincidentally developed a sarcoma of her ipsilateral leg distal to this site. Magnetic resonance imaging of the sarcoma included the area of knee pain where, interestingly, it identified a separate small soft-tissue mass. A glomus tumor was diagnosed histologically in a needle biopsy specimen from this mass, which was resected along with the sarcoma. For the first time in 15 years, despite the additional sarcoma surgery, she reported relief of her pain and complete resolution of her “CRPS.”

Atypical presentation of complex regional pain syndrome: neuropathic itching - A case report

Background

In some patients with neuropathic pain (NP), such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), itching rather than pain is the main symptom making diagnosis and treatment difficult.

Case

We report a case of a 23-year-old male with a history of hypoxic brain damage who presented with pruritus of the left foot and ankle. His left foot was fractured, and he underwent surgery 6 months previously. After the operation and cast application, he developed uncontrolled pruritus, swelling, sweating, and flushing of the left foot skin with limping. On examination, he showed well-known features of CRPS without pain. He was diagnosed with an atypical CRPS with neuropathic itching (NI). With treatment modalities used for NP and CRPS, his pruritus subsided gradually, and the his ankle mobility improved.

Conclusions

Unexplained itching can be the main symptom in some CRPS patients. Treatment according to NP can improve symptoms of NI in CRPS patients.

Diagnostic Performance of Three-Phase Bone Scintigraphy and Digital Infrared Thermography Imaging for Chronic Post-Traumatic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of three-phase bone scintigraphy (TPBS) and digital infrared thermography imaging (DITI) in the chronic post-traumatic CRPS and propose new imaging diagnostic criteria that combine the two tests. We retrospectively enrolled 44 patients with suspected symptoms of CRPS from various injuries during obligatory military service. We analyzed the following findings: (1) uptake pattern on TPBS, (2) uptake ratios of affected and unaffected sides in each phase of TPBS, (3) difference in body skin temperature on DITI. New criteria combining the above findings were also evaluated. Eighteen patients were finally defined as CRPS according to the Budapest criteria. Uptake pattern and uptake ratio in blood pool phase on the TPBS were significantly different between CRPS and non-CRPS groups (both p < 0.05). The DITI could not discriminate significantly between the groups (p = 0.334). The diagnostic criteria considering both the pattern analysis and quantitative analysis in TPBS exhibited the highest positive likelihood ratio. On the other hand, the diagnostic criteria combining DITI and TPBS showed the lowest negative likelihood ratio value. TPBS can be useful in diagnosing chronic post-traumatic CRPS. Moreover, we can suggest that different diagnostic criteria be applied depending on the purpose.

Leriche Syndrome Misdiagnosed as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in a Patient with Neuropathic Pain Caused by a Chip Fracture: A Case Report

Introduction: Leriche syndrome is an aortoiliac occlusive disease caused by atherosclerotic occlusion. We report a case of Leriche syndrome with a fracture that was suspected as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), as the post-traumatic pain gradually worsened in the form of excruciating neuropathic pain. Case Report: A 52-year-old woman with a history of hypertension was referred to the Department of Pain Medicine from a local orthopedic clinic because of suspected CRPS for excruciating neuropathic pain for one month. She complained of gait dysfunction and severe pain in the right foot following an incident of trauma with the right first toe. The average pain intensity assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) was 90 (0: no pain, 100: the worst pain imaginable), and the neuropathic pain was evident as a score of 6/10 on Douleur neuropathique 4. Allodynia, hyperalgesia, blue discoloration of the skin, asymmetric temperature change (1.38 °C), and edematous soft tissue changes were observed. Ultrasonography showed a chip fracture in the first distal phalanx of the right first toe. The diagnosis was most probably CRPS type I according to the Budapest research criteria for CRPS. However, multiple pain management techniques were insufficient in controlling the symptoms. A month and a half later, an ankle-brachial index score of less than 0.4 suggested severe peripheral artery disease. Computed tomography angiography showed total occlusion between the infrarenal abdominal aorta and the bilateral common iliac arteries. Therefore, she underwent aortic-bifemoral bypass surgery with a diagnosis of Leriche syndrome. Three months after the surgery, the average pain intensity was graded as 10 on the VAS (0–100), the color of the skin of the right first toe improved and no gait dysfunction was observed. Conclusion: A chip fracture in a region with insufficient blood flow could manifest as excruciating neuropathic pain in Leriche syndrome.

Prospective randomized study of the vitamin C effect on pain and complex pain regional syndrome after total knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I, formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) or algodystrophy, is a condition with chronic pain condition following a trauma or surgery. The physiopathology of this syndrome remained incompletely known. Due to the lack of effective curative treatment, prevention of this complication is important. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of vitamin C in preventing this complication.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between January 2018 and July 2019, we conducted a prospective randomized study on the efficiency of vitamin C (one group with and one without vitamin C) on prevention of CRPS risk in patients operated in our institution with TKA. Patients with a VAS pain score > 4 performed a three-phase bone scintigraphy. The diagnostic of CRPS was made by using the Budapest criteria associated to a bone scintigraphy. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three patients were included in the vitamin C group, 139 in the control group without vitamin C. For the entire cohort, the prevalence of complex regional pain syndrome was 7.9% (23 of 292). The prevalence of complex regional pain syndrome was 3.9% (six of 153) in the vitamin C group and 12.2% (seventeen of 139) in the control group (p = 0.008). After multivariate regression, vitamin C was found to be an independent preventive factor of CRPS and there was a significant difference between the vitamin C group and the control group (relative risk, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.8; p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

Taking 1 g per day of vitamin C during 40 days after a TKA reduces the risk of CRPS.

The predictive role of the posterior tibial tendon cross-sectional area in early diagnosing posterior tibial tendon dysfunction

A hypertrophied posterior tibial tendon (PTT) has been considered to be an important morphologic parameter of PTT dysfunction (PTTD). Previous research has demonstrated that the PTT thickness (PTTT) is correlated with early signs of PTTD. However, the thickness is different from hypertrophy. Thus, we devised the PTT cross-sectional area (PTTCSA) as a new predictive parameter for diagnosing the PTTD.The PTT data were acquired from 14 patients with PTTD and from 20 normal individuals who underwent ankle magnetic resonance imaging. We measured the PTTT and PTTCSA at the PTT on the ankle magnetic resonance imaging.The mean PTTT was 2.43 ± 0.39 mm in the normal group and 3.40 ± 0.42 mm in the PTTD group. The average PTTCSA was 16.10 ± 4.27 mm in the normal group and 26.93 ± 4.38 mm in the PTTD group. The receiver operator characteristic analysis curve demonstrated that the highest predictive value of the PTTT was 3.07 mm, with 85.7% sensitivity, 85.0% specificity. The highest predictive value of the PTTCSA was 22.54 mm, with 92.9% sensitivity, 90.0% specificity.Our findings suggest that the PTTCSA was a more valid predictor of PTTD, even though the PTTT and PTTCSA were both significantly associated with PTTD.

The role of the anterior talofibular ligament area as a morphological parameter of the chronic ankle sprain

BACKGROUND

Repetitive microtrauma can result in a hypertrophied ATFL. Previous studies have found that the anterior talofibular ligament thickness (ATFLT) is correlated with lateral ankle sprains, ligament injuries and chronic stroke in patients, and thickened anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) has been considered to be a major morphologic parameter of hypertrophied ATFL. However, hypertrophy is different from thickness. Thus, we devised the anterior talofibular ligament area (ATFLA) as a new morphological parameter to evaluate the hypertrophy of the whole ATFL.

METHODS

ATFL samples were collected from 53 patients with sprain group and from 50 control subjects who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the ankle and revealed no evidence of lateral ankle injury. Axial T1-weighted MRI images were collected at the ankle level from all subjects. We measured the ATFLA and ATFLT at the anterior margin of the fibular malleolus to the talus bone on the MRI using a picture archiving and communications system. The ATFLA was measured as the whole cross-sectional ligament area of the ATFL that was most hypertrophied in the axial MR images. The ATFLT was measured as the thickest point between the lateral malleolus and the talus of the ankle.

RESULTS

The average ATFLA was 25.0 ± 6.0 mm² in the control group and 47.1 ± 10.4 mm² in the sprain group. The average ATFLT was 2.3 ± 0.6 mm in the control group and 3.8 ± 0.6 mm in the hypertrophied group. Patients in sprain group had significantly greater ATFLA (p < 0.001) and ATFLT (p < 0.001) than the control subjects. A Receiver Operator Characteristics curve analysis showed that the best cut-off point of the ATFLA was 34.8 mm², with 94.3% sensitivity, 94.0% specificity, and an AUC of 0.97 (95% CI, 0.94-1.00). The optimal cut-off point of the ATFLT was 3.1 mm, with 86.8% sensitivity, 86.0% specificity, and AUC of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92-0.99).

CONCLUSION

ATFLA is a new morphological parameter for evaluating chronic ankle sprain, and may even be more sensitive than ATFLT.

Successful removal of permanent spinal cord stimulators in patients with complex regional pain syndrome after complete relief of pain

Background

It is uncommon for patients who have received a permanent implant to remove the spinal cord stimulator (SCS) after discontinuation of medication in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) due to their completely painless state. This study evaluated CRPS patients who successfully removed their SCSs.

Methods

This 10-year retrospective study was performed on patients who had received the permanent implantation of an SCS and had removed it 6 months after discontinuation of stimulation, while halting all medications for neuropathic pain. Age, sex, duration of implantation, site and type of CRPS, and their return to work were compared between the removal and non-removal groups.

Results

Five (12.5%, M/F = 4/1) of 40 patients (M/F = 33/7) successfully removed the permanent implant. The mean age was younger in the removal group (27.2 ± 6.4 vs. 43.5 ± 10.7 years, P < 0.01). The mean duration of implantation in the removal group was 34.4 ± 18.2 months. Two of 15 patients (13.3%) and 3 of 25 patients (12%) who had upper and lower extremity pain, respectively, had removed the implant. The implants could be removed in 5 of 27 patients (18.5%) with CRPS type 1 (P < 0.01). All 5 patients (100%) who removed their SCS returned to work, while only 5 of 35 (14.3%) in the non-removal group did (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Even though this study had limited data, younger patients with CRPS type 1 could remove their SCSs within a 5-year period and return to work with complete pain relief.