title: Imaging of musculoskeletal manifestations in sickle cell disease patients.
abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary red cell disorder with clinical manifestations secondary to sickling or crescent-shaped distortion of the red blood cells. Major clinical manifestations of SCD include haemolytic anaemia and vaso-occlusive phenomena resulting in ischaemic tissue injury and organ damage. Chronic sequelae of the anaemia and vaso-occlusive processes involving the musculoskeletal system include complications related to extramedullary haematopoiesis, osteonecrosis, myonecrosis and osteomyelitis. Sickle cell bone disease is one of the commonest clinical presentations. Awareness and knowledge of the imaging features related to these complications are essential for early diagnosis and prompt management. In this article, the pathophysiology and key imaging findings related to these complications are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Vijaya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kosaraju
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harwani
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Sasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Partovi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhojwani
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Vasant
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Sabarish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayyappan
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kosmas
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robbin
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography / Q000379:methods