Frequency and spectrum of abnormalities in the bone marrow of the wrist: MR imaging findings.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the frequency of marrow abnormalities on wrist MR imaging and the MR findings of these various abnormalities.


METHODS
Five hundred and nineteen patients were studied at 1.5 T. Two observers recorded the presence and location of avascular necrosis, occult fractures and arthritic edema [focal osteoarthritis, ulnolunate abutment, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, gouty arthritis and scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC)].


CONCLUSIONS
One hundred and eighty-seven (36%) patients demonstrated marrow abnormalities in the wrist, of which 101 were diagnosed as arthritis [64 (34%) as focal osteoarthritis, 17 (9%) as ulnolunate abutment, 15 (8%) as rheumatoid arthritis, 2 as septic arthritis, 2 as SLAC, and 1 as gouty arthritis]. Seventy-two patients had occult fractures and in 27 patients avascular necrosis was seen. MR imaging can reveal various abnormalities in bone marrow of the wrist when findings on radiography are normal or equivocal.
Alam
F
F
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Schweitzer
M E
ME
Li
X X
XX
Malat
J
J
Hussain
S M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000002:abnormalities*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology*