MR imaging of digital mucoid cysts.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis and clarification of the physiopathology of digital mucoid cysts.


METHODS
Twenty-three patients (14 women, nine men; aged 52-75 years) with mucoid cysts underwent MR imaging at 1.5 T with a local surface gradient coil. The pixel size was 117 microns in one direction. T2 relaxation times were measured. Contrast material was intravenously administered in 15 patients.


RESULTS
All mucoid cysts had high signal intensity and sharp borders on T2-weighted images. Intracystic septa were present in nine patients (39%). Most cysts were solitary (n = 13) and/or in the proximal nail fold (n = 16). Satellite cysts were present in five patients. Nineteen patients (83%) had cysts with pedicles that extended to the joint. Osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint was present in 16 patients (70%). Five patients (22%) had multiple flattened cysts that were usually independent of the joint. In seven patients (30%), MR images showed cysts beneath the nail plate.


CONCLUSIONS
Digital mucoid cysts may be polymorphic. MR imaging is helpful when cysts are in the nail bed.
Drapé
J L
JL
Department of Skeletal Radiology, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.
Idy-Peretti
I
I
Goettmann
S
S
Salon
A
A
Abimelec
P
P
Guérin-Surville
H
H
Bittoun
J
J
D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000473:pathology*; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009078:Mucocele / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D009262:Nails / Q000473:pathology; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications; D013933:Thumb / Q000473:pathology*
D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C050823:gadolinium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetate