ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to depict and characterize the changes seen in diabetic foot infections. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: MRI studies of 29 diabetic patients with suspected foot infection were evaluated. Sagittal and transverse T1-weighted images before and after intravenous gadolinium, and transverse fat-suppressed T2-weighted images were performed on the affected regions. The MRI findings were compared to subsequent clinical and/or histopathological findings. RESULTS: The MRI findings were: osteomyelitis in 14 patients, abscess in 5, cellulitis in 26, tenosynovitis in 4 and neuropathic joint in 8. Three cases were normal. Pathological confirmations were obtained in 19 patients. MRI and histological diagnosis were in concordance in 79% of osteomyelitis cases, 100% of neuropathy cases and 100% of cellulitis cases. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI in diagnosing osteomyelitis were 100 and 63%, respectively. The positive predictive and negative predictive values, and the accuracy were 79, 100 and 84%, respectively. MRI helped surgical planning for limb salvage procedures in 6 of the osteomyelitis cases and in a cellulitis case. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that MRI is a sensitive and accurate imaging modality for the evaluation of foot infections in diabetic patients and for planning proper treatment.
