title: Ischiofemoral Space on MRI in an Asymptomatic Population: Normative Width Measurements and Soft Tissue Signal Variations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To make normative width measurements of the ischiofemoral (IF) space in an asymptomatic population and to record soft tissue MRI signal variations within the IF space in order to determine whether such variations are associated with IF space dimensions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normative width measurements of the IF space were prospectively made in 418 hips on 1.5 T MR images of 209 asymptomatic volunteers. Quantitative and qualitative assessments of the IF soft tissues including the quadratus femoris (QF) muscle were also made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean IF space width was 2.56 ± 0.75 cm (right, 2.60 ± 0.75 cm; left, 2.53 ± 0.75 cm). Soft tissue MRI signal abnormalities were present within the IF space in 19 (9.1 %) of 209 volunteers. Soft tissue abnormalities within the IF space included oedema (3/209, 1.4 %) of the QF and/or surrounding soft tissue, and only fatty infiltration (16/209, 7.7 %) of the QF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bilateral IF spaces are asymmetrical in asymptomatic persons. There is ≥10 % of width difference between right and left IF spaces in approximately half of asymptomatic individuals. Fatty infiltration and oedema can be present at the IF space in a small portion of the asymptomatic population, who also have narrower IF spaces than those without soft tissue MRI signal abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Bilateral IF spaces are commonly asymmetrical in asymptomatic individuals. • MRI signal abnormalities can be observed within IF space in asymptomatic people. • Abnormal quantitative/qualitative MRI findings are not necessarily related to IF impingement.
authors: Department of Radiology, İnönü University School of Medicine, 44280, Malatya, Turkey, zynpmaras@yahoo.com.
authors: Zeynep
authors: Z
authors: Maraş Özdemir
authors: Üstün
authors: Ü
authors: Aydıngöz
authors: Cemile Ayşe
authors: CA
authors: Görmeli
authors: Ayşegül
authors: A
authors: Sağır Kahraman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004487:Edema; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011446:Prospective Studies