Meniscus Tear Presented as Bone Marrow Edema Manifested in Hybrid Images in Skeletal Scintigraphy: A Case Report
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Chronic knee pain is a common degenerative disorder amongst the elderly, and differential diagnosis through imaging remains crucial. Bone marrow edema represents an increase of water content in the normally fatty bone marrow. The size of the bone marrow edema is associated with the development of knee pain in Osteoarthritis (OA). Bone marrow edema cannot be seen on plain radiography, and while a SPECT/CT scan is more sensitive than MRI in detection of bone marrow edema, the definite diagnosis of bone marrow edema is dependent upon MRI. SPECT/CT is the combination of 3D scintigraphy and computed tomography, which provides more specific anatomical localization and improved sensitivity. It is a valuable tool for the early evaluation of knee pain, as the increase of bone tracer uptake can be seen in bone marrow edema (BME), cartilage lesions, meniscus tear or derangement and valgus/varus alignment. Hence acquiring information from both MRI and SPECT/CT can help determine the optimal treatment. We present a case of chronic knee pain as evaluated by MRI and SPECT/CT.
Author: Shin Tsu Chang
Language: English
Topic: Bone and Joint Diseases
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3133537896