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BackgroundChronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is an autoinflammatory bone disorder affecting children and adolescents. Previously classified as a rare disease, recent studies suggest a higher incidence of the disease. CNO may develop into the clinical presentation of chronic recurrent osteomyelitis (CRMO) with high relapse rate and multifocality.Main bodyDiagnosis of CNO/CRMO is often delayed, with implications for disease severity and relapse rate. This can be significantly improved by knowledge of the disease entity and its characteristics. Imaging plays a key role in diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapy monitoring. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has several advantages compared to other imaging methods and is increasingly applied in clinical studies. Recent studies show that a whole-body (WB) coverage (WB-MRI) without contrast agent administration is a rational approach. This educational review is based on a systematic analysis of international peer-reviewed articles and presents our own clinical experiences. It provides an overview of disease entity, incidence and clinical diagnosis. The role of imaging, especially of whole-body MRI, is discussed in detail. Finally, practical advice for imaging, including flowcharts explaining when and how to apply imaging, is provided.ConclusionKnowing the specifics of CNO/CRMO and the importance of MRI/whole-body MRI allows rapid and efficient diagnosis as well as therapy support and helps to avoid irreversible secondary damage.

Background The neural correlates of motor imagery (MI) are tightly coupled with the cortical motor control network. Therefore MI may have therapeutic potential for patients with motor deficits after an ischemic stroke. Objective The aim of our study was to assess the hemispheric balance of the cortical motor network during motor imagery (MI) in patients recovering from stroke in the sub-acute stage. Methods We studied 17 patients after cerebral ischemic stroke (sub-acute stage) and 12 healthy subjects using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) during motor imagery and performance of isometric grip force movements (5 Newton). Laterality indices (LI) were calculated from regional activation analysis to assess hemispheric distribution of activity in pre-specified motor areas. Results Laterality index (LI) revealed a more balanced cortical activity in MI for both controls (-0.03) and patients (-0.12) in the premotor cortex compared to movement execution (0.48 controls; 0.12 patients) and a trend towards a shift in contra-lesional activity in stroke patients. Conclusions Our results indicate a preserved interhemispheric balance of patients in the sub-acute stage when activating the cortical motor areas during MI. This could provide a reasonable physiologic baseline for using MI as an additional rehabilitative therapy for improving functional recovery in the sub-acute stage after stroke.