Acute experimental osteomyelitis and abscesses: detection with MR imaging versus CT

• Published in: Radiology Vol. 174; no. 1; p. 233
• Main Authors: Chandnani, V P, Beltran, J, Morris, C S, Khalil, S N, Mueller, C F, Burk, J M, Bennett, W F, Shaffer, P B, Vasila, M S, Reese, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-01-1990
• Subjects: Abscess - diagnosis; Animals; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Muscular Diseases - diagnosis; Osteomyelitis - diagnosis; Rabbits; Staphylococcal Infections - diagnosis; Tibia; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0033-8419
• DOI: 10.1148/radiology.174.1.2294554

Acute experimental osteomyelitis and abscesses were induced in the proximal tibia and surrounding soft tissues, respectively, in 67 New Zealand white rabbits. Fifty-three rabbits were injected with a Staphylococcus aureus solution and 26, with sterile saline in tibial medullae and/or surrounding soft tissues. Contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were performed 7 days after inoculation. Immediately after imaging, the animals were killed and necropsy was performed. MR imaging was more sensitive than CT in the detection of osteomyelitis (94% vs 66%, P less than .025) and abscesses (97% vs 52%, P less than .001). MR imaging was equally specific as CT in the exclusion of osteomyelitis (93% vs 97%, chi 2 = 0) but less specific than CT in the exclusion of abscesses (77% vs 100%, P less than .025). The overall accuracy of MR imaging was somewhat, although not significantly, greater than that of CT in the detection of both osteomyelitis (93% vs 80%) and abscesses (87% vs 75%).