title: The microanatomic basis of finger clubbing - a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypervascularization in finger clubbing is recognized, but its microanatomical basis remains unclear. This pilot descriptive study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore this further.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-resolution MRI acquired with contrast agent was carried out in 4 patients with finger clubbing and 4 healthy volunteers. The anatomy of the nail bed, capsular structures, and bony changes were described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Marked nail bed thickening and contrast enhancement was noted in all clubbed fingers, with bone edema in 3 of the 4 patients. None of the healthy subjects had similar abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This confirms that hypervascularization of the nail bed observed in the microanatomy on high-resolution MRI is associated with clubbed appearances of the nails.
authors.affiliation: From the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Chapel Allerton Hospital; Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan; Medical Physics and Engineering, Leeds Teaching Hospitals UK National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Nicola Ann
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fukuba
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radjenovic
authors.forename: Steven F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McGonagle
authors.forename: Ai Lyn
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D010005:Osteoarthropathy, Secondary Hypertrophic / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CANCER; FINGER CLUBBING; LUNG; MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING; NAIL; RESPIRATORY