MRI findings in renal transplant recipients with hip and knee pain.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and demonstrate the MRI findings of renal transplant recipients with hip and knee pain and to investigate the most common etiology of pain.


METHODS
69 hip MRIs of 57 patients with hip pain and 30 knee MRIs of 24 patients with knee pain with no history of trauma were retrospectively evaluated by two radiologists.


RESULTS
In the evaluation of hip MRIs, 24 patients had avascular necrosis and effusion, 2 patients had bone marrow edema consistent with early stage of avascular necrosis. 18 patients had only intraarticular effusion, 6 patients had tendinitis, 6 patients had bursitis and 1 patient had soft tissue abscess. Five patients had muscle edema and five patients had muscle atrophy as additional findings to the primary pathologies. Among patients with knee pain, nine patients had degenerative joint disease. Seven patients had chondromalacia, five had bone marrow edema, six had meniscal tear, six had ligament rupture and two had bone infarct. Three of the patients had muscle edema accompanying to other pathologies.


CONCLUSIONS
The most common etiology of hip pain in renal transplant recipients is avascular necrosis as expected, intraarticular effusion is found to be the second reason for pain. However, knee pain is explained by ligament pathology, meniscal tear, chondromalacia or degenerative joint disease rather than osteonecrosis.
Donmez
Fuldem Yildirim
FY
Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Fevzi Cakmak Caddesi 10. sokak no: 45, Bahcelievler 06490, Ankara, Turkey. fuldemyildirim@yahoo.com
Basaran
Ceyla
C
Ulu
Esra Meltem Kayahan
EM
Uyusur
Arzu
A
Tarhan
Nefise Cagla
NC
Muhtesem Agildere
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult