BACKGROUND: The pathologic changes at the physis in patients with rickets have been well demonstrated histologically. Radiographs can depict only the associated osseous abnormalities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report two children in whom MR imaging demonstrated rachitic changes in the physeal cartilage beyond the well-recognized bony features. RESULTS: The striking appearance of the physes and the physes of the secondary ossification centers confirm that MR imaging can successfully evaluate the cartilaginous structures of the developing skeleton. CONCLUSION: Though MR imaging is clearly unnecessary for the diagnosis of rickets, it is important that the typical features are not misinterpreted as other pathology.
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