Arterial pseudoaneurysms of the shoulder mimicking other entities: utilization of pulsation artifact on musculoskeletal MR for accurate diagnosis in 2 cases.
We present two cases of pseudoaneurysm (PSA) about the shoulder mimicking more common clinical entities-soft tissue neoplasm and septic arthritis-for which biopsy of the mass and joint aspiration were requested respectively. We review the imaging findings of PSA with emphasis on findings in musculoskeletal protocol MRI, including the identification of pulsation artifact in both cases, which was critical to establishing the correct diagnosis. In the proper clinical setting, with imaging findings demonstrating a complex mass or fluid collection, MR images should be scrutinized for the presence of pulsation artifact, which can help diagnose a high-flow vascular lesion and avoid a potentially harmful invasive procedure such as biopsy.
Department of Radiology, Hospital for Joint Disease, New York University, 301st 17th Street. Rm 600, New York, NY, 10003, USA. mmsamim@gmail.com.
Mohammad
M
Samim
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Jacob
J
Mandell
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Stacy
S
Smith
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Neena
N
Kapoor
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Gregory
G
Czuczman
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012782:Shoulder / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D003287:Contrast Media
MRI; Mass; Pseudoaneurysm; Pulsation artifact; Shoulder