Imaging Pearls ❯ Musculoskeletal ❯ Osteomyelitis
|
-- OR -- |
|
- “Early diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis is critical because prompt antibiotic therapy may prevent necrosis of bone. Osteomyelitis is primarily a clinical diagnosis, although the clinical picture may be confusing. An inadequate or late diagnosis significantly diminishes the cure rate and increases the degree of complications and morbidity; for these reasons, imaging modalities are essential to confirm the presumed clinical diagnosis and to provide information regarding the exact site and extent of the infectious process. Imaging information can be extremely helpful to the clinician planning medical or surgical treatment.”
Radiographic Imaging in Osteomyelitis: The Role of Plain Radiography, Computed Tomography, Ultrasonography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Scintigraphy
Semin Plast Surg 2009 May;23(2):80-89 - “The major role of this technique in osteomyelitis is the detection of sequestra in cases of chronic osteomyelitis, as these pieces of necrotic bone can be masked by the surrounding osseous abnormalities on conventional radiography. The presence of pieces of sequestered bone suggests activity of the infectious process, and their detection is helpful to guide the therapeutic options. CT is superior to MRI for the detection of sequestra, cloacas, involucra, or intraosseous gas and can help in the guidance of needle biopsies and joint aspiration; furthermore, it is also valuable in cases of vertebral osteomyelitis.”
Radiographic Imaging in Osteomyelitis: The Role of Plain Radiography, Computed Tomography, Ultrasonography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Scintigraphy
Semin Plast Surg 2009 May;23(2):80-89 - “Positron emission tomography (PET) systems are relatively novel techniques that are being applied in several medical fields. It has been demonstrated that FDG-PET has the highest diagnostic accuracy for confirming or excluding the diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis in comparison with bone scintigraphy, MRI, or leukocyte scintigraphy; FDG-PET also is superior to leukocyte scintigraphy for detecting chronic osteomyelitis in the axial skeleton.”
Radiographic Imaging in Osteomyelitis: The Role of Plain Radiography, Computed Tomography, Ultrasonography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Scintigraphy
Semin Plast Surg 2009 May;23(2):80-89