THE DIAGNOSTIC EFFICACY OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING AND ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN MORTONS NEUROMA - A RADIOLOGICAL-SURGICAL CORRELATION

All patients operated upon for Morton's neuroma during 1991 who were e xamined with both magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography were included in this prospective study. The object of the study was to eva luate the diagnostic value of these two modalities. The preoperative d iagnosis was purely clinical. Histology confirmed surgical findings. A 0.3 T scanner was used for the magnetic resonance imaging, and a 7.5 MHz linear transducer was used for the ultrasonography. The study incl udes nine patients. Eight neuromas were found at surgery. Of these, on ly five were diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging and three with ultrasonography. This indicates that false negative diagnoses are comm on. At present we find these modalities of little or no value, but, wi th improved equipment and experience, they may become valuable.