role of MRI in the diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis in the peripheral bones

The objective of the study was to review and to evaluate the value of different MRI sequences in the diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis. This study was performed on 35 patients, clinically suspected to have acute osteomyelitis. MRI showed evidences of acute osteomyelitis in 32 out of 35 patients included in this study. Two patients had septic arthritis and there was one case of Brodie's abscess. The primary MRI sign for the diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis was bone marrow signal intensity abnormalities this was best detected at T2 weighted spin echo images and with STIR images. Other MRI signs included bone cortical interruption, and associated soft tissue infection