Musculoskeletal CT Appearances
Avascular Necrosis (AVN) CT Findings
- Areas of dead trabecular bone
- Can occur in many parts of the skeleton, but the femoral head is most common
- More common in patients on steroids, renal failure or sickle cell disease
Other Information About Avascular Necrosis (AVN)
Etiology:
- Trauma
- Steroid use
- Alcohol use
- Smoking
- HIV
- Sickle cell disease
- Gaucher disease
- Radiation therapy
- Lupus
- Decompression sickness
Epidemiology:
- More common in males
- Usually presents in patients aged 30-50
Presentation:
- Initially asymptomatic
- Joint pain occurs as the disease worsens
Prognosis:
- There is no cure for avascular necrosis but it can be managed
- Prognosis depends greatly on the cause