Role of CT and MRI in diagnosing clinically obscure orthopedic cases

ABSTRACT

Seventeen patients with non-diagnostic clinical and radiographic findings were studied with CT scan. MR imaging was done in 12 cases. The preoperative diagnosis has been improved by using these imaging modalities. Accurate localization of the lesion has facilitated the surgical procedure in all cases. 7 lesions were osteoid osteoma, 6 Brodie's abscess, and 4 tuberculosis. CT scan results were found to be in agreement with the surgical and biopsy findings in 82% of the cases. MR imaging was found to be superior to CT scan in delineating the soft tissues and marrow space involvement. CT scan was superior to MR imaging in showing cortical involvement and calcifications within the lesion. These data lend strong support to use these imaging modalities when conventional methods fail to show up the lesion