Segmental patterns of avascular necrosis of the femoral heads: early detection with MR imaging. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Thirty-two patients (64 hips) in whom avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral heads was highly suspected clinically were studied by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, radionuclide bone scintigraphy, and conventional radiography. MR studies were positive for AVN in 37 hips, compared with 30 positive scintigraphic studies. In all cases in which scintigraphy and radiography were positive, MR imaging demonstrated decreased signal from the affected femoral heads, indicative of bone marrow disease. Imaging results were confirmed by biopsy or subsequent imaging appearances. In patients with negative initial scintigraphic and radiographic studies, the MR imaging criterion for a positive study was a moderately decreased bone marrow signal displaying segmental patterns within an otherwise normal-appearing femoral head on relatively T1-weighted images. In this series of high-risk patients, radionuclide scintigraphy had a sensitivity of 81%, compared with 100% for MR imaging. MR imaging should be the imaging modality of choice for early evaluation of bone marrow changes indicative of AVN.

publication date

  • March 1, 1987

Research

keywords

  • Femur Head Necrosis
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0023132398

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1148/radiology.162.3.3809485

PubMed ID

  • 3809485

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 162

issue

  • 3