Magnetic resonance imaging in Tietze`s syndrome

CER3430
2008 Vol.26, N°5
PI 0848, PF 0853
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PMID: 19032818 [PubMed]

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Tietze`s syndrome which, to our knowledge, has not previously been reported in the literature.
METHODS:
Twelve consecutive outpatients with clinical features of Tietze`s syndrome underwent evaluation, including the anamnesis, clinical general examination, clinical evaluation of costosternal and sternoclavicular joints (SCJ) and biochemical and instrumental investigations. Twenty normal subjects age- and sex-matched to the patients` group were examined in a similar manner. MRI of costosternal and SCJ was performed using a 1.5 Tesla unit (Gyroscan NT 1.5 Philips, The Netherlands and GE Signa Excite HD, GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wis., USA).
RESULTS:
The MRI pattern of primary Tietze`s syndrome was characterized as follows: enlargement and thickening of cartilage at the site of complaint (12/12 patients); focal or widespread increased signal intensities of affected cartilage on both TSE T2-weighted and STIR or FAT SAT images (10/12 patients); bone marrow oedema in the subcondral bone (5/12 patients); vivid gadolinium uptake in the areas of thickened cartilage, in the subcondral bone marrow and/or in capsule and ligaments (10/12, 4/12 and 7/12 patients respectively).
CONCLUSIONS:
Magnetic resonance is an excellent technique to evidence both the cartilage and bone abnormalities, therefore it represents the elective method in the investigation of primary Tietze`s syndrome, due to its high sensitivity, diagnostic reliability and biological advantages thanks to the lack of ionizing radiation.