A Comparison Between Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Pathology, and Radiology in 34 Limbs With Navicular Syndrome and 25 Control Limbs

摘要

The pathology of navicular syndrome/palmar foot pain predominantly affects the structures that define the boundaries of the navicular bursa. Alterations in magnetic resonance signal intensity and tissue contour of these structures represent changes intissue structure detectable using gross and histopathological examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a high sensitivity and specificity for abnormalities of the navicular bone, deep flexor tendon, collateral sesamoidean ligaments, and distalsesamoidean impar ligament. MRI had a poor to fair sensitivity for osteophytes and cartilage damage in the distal interphalangeal joint and for early fibrocartilage loss from the flexor surface of the navicular bone. Although there was a good correlationbetween MRI and the radiological navicular bone grading system, MRI was also able to show medullary and flexor border abnormalities of the navicular bone that were not visible on radiographs.