MRI of knee osteonecrosis in children with leukemia and lymphoma: Part 2, clinical and imaging patterns.
OBJECTIVE
This aim of this study was to explore the relationship between MRI findings and clinical symptoms of knee osteonecrosis in children and to determine the significance of this relationship. Such information is important for early diagnosis of this frequent complication and for choosing an appropriate treatment strategy.


METHODS
Osteonecrotic lesion size and location were determined in a retrospective analysis of MR images of the knee obtained in our institution during the past 10 years. Association between MRI findings and clinical symptoms expressed by the knee scores was tested for a subgroup of our patient population who had clinical evaluation of the knees in the orthopedic clinic within 6 weeks of their MRI studies.


RESULTS
In 80% of patients, osteonecrosis was bilateral. Lesions were distributed as follows: femur and tibia, 66% of the knees; femur alone, 26%; and tibia alone, 8%. Clinical symptoms of knee osteonecrosis were associated with lesions involving the articular surface of the distal femur, large lesions, and involvement of any part of the tibia. MR images showed milder osteonecrosis in patients who were less than 10 years old at the time of primary diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Osteonecrosis affecting the knees of children treated for leukemia and lymphoma is mostly asymptomatic. Children who are 10 years old or older have signs of more advanced osteonecrosis. Clinical symptoms often lag MRI presentation and may develop late in the course of the disease. Routine MRI evaluation is recommended for timely diagnosis of treatment-induced osteonecrosis.
Karimova
Evguenia J
EJ
Department of Radiological Sciences, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N Lauderdale St., Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
Rai
Shesh N
SN
Ingle
David
D
Ralph
Amy C
AC
Deng
Xin
X
Neel
Michael D
MD
Howard
Scott C
SC
Pui
Ching-Hon
CH
Kaste
Sue C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents