title: Subchondral linear hyperintensity of the femoral head: MR imaging findings and associations with femoro-acetabular joint pathology.
abstract: The goal of this study was to evaluate the associations between linear hyperintensity in the subchondral bone of the femoral head on T2-weighted MR imaging and structural bone lesions.
  
  
  
  The MR imaging examinations of 63 patients (66 hips) that showed a bone marrow edema pattern (BMEP) of the hip were retrospectively evaluated (study group). The study group comprised 43 men and 20 women, with a mean age of 55.3 years±16.9 (SD) (range: 19-84 years). A control group of 61 patients (77 hips) without BMEP of the hip on MR imaging was created. The control group comprised 30 men and 31 women, with a mean age of 53.1 years±15.6 (SD) (range: 25-83 years). The presence of linear abnormalities of the subchondral bone on T2-weighted fat-saturated sequences (TR/TE=4220-4340/42-45ms) was evaluated and MR imaging findings were correlated with structural femoro-acetabular pathology (advanced chondropathy, osteonecrosis, subchondral insufficiency fractures and macroscopic fractures) and with pain duration.
  
  
  
  A linear hyperintensity in the subchondral bone on T2-weighted MR imaging was found in 43/66 hips with areas of BMEP (65.1%) and in 3/77 hips without BMEP (3.8%). Subchondral linear hyperintensity was seen in 15/16 (93.7%) hips with a subchondral insufficiency fracture. Among the 16 hips with an ARCO stage III osteonecrosis, 13 (76.9%) presented BMEP associated with a subchondral linear hyperintensity. BMEP was present in 6/8 hips with ARCO stage IV osteonecrosis; however, only two hips (25%) exhibited subchondral linear hyperintensities. Finally, 77.7% of patients with subchondral linear hyperintensities presented with acute or subacute hip pain (P<0.0001).
  
  
  
  Femoral head subchondral linear hyperintensity on T2-weighted MR imaging is common and is associated with acute subchondral bone damage.
authors.affiliation: Guilloz Department of Imaging, Hôpital Central, CHU de Nancy, 29, avenue Maréchal-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 54035 Nancy, France. Electronic address: ped_gt@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gondim Teixeira
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine, Université de Parakou, P.O. Box 02, Parakou, Benin.
authors.forename: K-M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Savi de Tové
authors.affiliation: Guilloz Department of Imaging, Hôpital Central, CHU de Nancy, 29, avenue Maréchal-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 54035 Nancy, France.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abou Arab
authors.affiliation: Guilloz Department of Imaging, Hôpital Central, CHU de Nancy, 29, avenue Maréchal-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 54035 Nancy, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.affiliation: Guilloz Department of Imaging, Hôpital Central, CHU de Nancy, 29, avenue Maréchal-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 54035 Nancy, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.affiliation: Service d'imagerie médicale de femme et périnatale, Maternité Universitaire Régionale, 54035 Nancy, France.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Polet Lefebvre
authors.affiliation: Guilloz Department of Imaging, Hôpital Central, CHU de Nancy, 29, avenue Maréchal-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 54035 Nancy, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Femoral head; MR imaging; Osteonecrosis; Subchondral bone; Subchondral insufficiency fracture