Non-Neoplastic Femoral Head Lesions: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Value

Abstract
Background: Hip pain is a common problem in patients of all ages, attributed to many causes. MRI combined with recent technologic developmentst plays a crucial role in assessment of epiphyseal disorders in great detail without ionizing radiation.
Aim of Study: Was to evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI in assessment of non-neoplastic femoral head lesions.
Patients and Methods: This study included 40 patients, 22 females (55%) and 18 males (45%), their ages ranged from 4 to 65 years with a mean age of 35 years complaining of hip pain. The most frequently involved age group was the group >30-40 years in both males and females.
All patients were clinically evaluated, and then subjected for radiological examination and medical imaging (MRI) for all patients and ultrasonography for 6 patients (5 developmental dysplasia and 1 septic arthritis).
Results: Out of forty patients who had performed MRI were classified to: Avascular necrosis; the commonest disease in our study; as it is seen in 12 (30%) patients, followed by; osteoarthritis in 6 (15%) patients, migratory osteoporosis in 4 (10%) patients, septic arthritis in 4 (10%) patients, devel-opmental dysplasia in 5 (12.5%) patients, Perthe's disease in 4 (10%) patients, slipped capital femoral epiphysis in 3 (7.5%) patients and stress fractures in 2 (5%) patients.
The final diagnosis achieved through the MRI findings were confirmed by surgical data in 6 patients with avascular necrosis, histopathology in 5 patients (3 septic arthritis and 2 osteoarthritis) and follow-up by clinical, laboratory and other imaging studies in 29 patients.
Conclusion: MRI is highly sensitive imaging modality for diagnosis and characterizing of different non-neoplastic femoral head lesions and accurate for assessing the full extent of osseous, chondral and soft tissue abnormalities of the hip joint.