Femoral head
Revision as of 11:22, 11 October 2012 by Michael (talk | contribs) (→Rheumatoid arthritis: +link to fracture)
The femoral head is a common ditzel in surgical pathology at centres which have orthopaedic surgeons.
Many of these can be "gross only".
Gross
Features to comment on:[1]
- Liberality (on requisition).
- Dimensions of head and neck.
- Shape of head (round? deformed?).
- Resection margin (irregular?).
- Cartilage (thinning/eburnation? separation from the cartilage).
- Bone (subchondral cysts? subchondral sclerosis?).
- Presence of soft tissue.
- Other (osteophytes? pannus?).
Notes:
- Some advocate the use of cardboard when cutting[2] -- weird.
Criteria for gross only
- Well developed features of osteoarthritis.
- No history of cancer.
Diagnoses to consider
- Avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Rheumatologic disease - rheumatoid arthritis.
- Pathologic fracture.
- Infection (osteomyelitis).
Specific diagnoses
Avascular necrosis of the femoral head
- AKA avascular necrosis, abbreviated AVN.
General
Risk factors:
- Oral steroids, e.g. prednisone.[3]
- Cushing disease.
- Cushing syndrome.
- Radiation.
Gross
Features:[4]
- Wedge-shaped pale yellow below cartilage.
- +/-Cartilage separates from the bone.
- +/-Deformation of femoral head.
Image:
Microscopic
Features:[5]
- Empty lacunae (indicative of necrotic bone).
Osteoarthritis
- See Osteoarthritis.
Infection
- See Osteomyelitis.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Main article: Rheumatoid arthritis
Gross
Features:
- Pannus[6] - fibrovascular tissue or granulation tissue.
Image: RA (tumorlibrary.com).
Fracture due to metastatic carcinoma
Main article: Fracture
General
- Uncommon.
- Should not be missed.
- Classically in older individuals.
Gross
Features:
- Irregular resection margin.
- Focal, irregular, tan-white discolouration of the marrow space.
Image:
Microscopic
Features:
- See adenocarcinoma.
See also
References
- ↑ Lester, Susan Carole (2005). Manual of Surgical Pathology (2nd ed.). Saunders. pp. 225. ISBN 978-0443066450.
- ↑ Dimenstein, IB. (Jun 2008). "Bone grossing techniques: helpful hints and procedures.". Ann Diagn Pathol 12 (3): 191-8. doi:10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2007.06.004. PMID 18486895.
- ↑ URL: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/musculoskeletal_and_connective_tissue_disorders/osteonecrosis/osteonecrosis.html. Accessed on: 30 April 2012.
- ↑ Lester, Susan Carole (2005). Manual of Surgical Pathology (2nd ed.). Saunders. pp. 224. ISBN 978-0443066450.
- ↑ Steffen, RT.; Athanasou, NA.; Gill, HS.; Murray, DW. (Jun 2010). "Avascular necrosis associated with fracture of the femoral neck after hip resurfacing: histological assessment of femoral bone from retrieval specimens.". J Bone Joint Surg Br 92 (6): 787-93. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.92B6.23377. PMID 20513874.
- ↑ Lester, Susan Carole (2005). Manual of Surgical Pathology (2nd ed.). Saunders. pp. 223. ISBN 978-0443066450.
- ↑ URL: http://www.path.utah.edu/casepath/ms%20cases/ms%20case%205%20comp/case%205.htm. Accessed on: 11 October 2012.