Osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a prospective study with MRI.
We performed a prospective study using MRI to evaluate early necrosis of the femoral head in 48 patients receiving high-dose corticosteroids for the treatment of various autoimmune-related disorders. The mean interval from the initiation of corticosteroid therapy to the first MRI examination was 2 months (0.5 to 6). MRI was repeated, and the mean period of follow-up was 31 months (24 to 69). Abnormalities were found on MRI in 31 hips (32%). The initial changes showed well-demarcated, band-like zones which were seen at a mean of 3.6 months after initiation of treatment with steroids. In 14 of these hips (45%) there was a spontaneous reduction in the size of the lesions about one year after treatment had started, but there was no further change in size with a longer follow-up.
Sakamoto
M
M
Second Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chuo-ku, Japan.
Shimizu
K
K
Iida
S
S
Akita
T
T
Moriya
H
H
Nawata
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000473:pathology; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones