RHEUMATOID NODULE OF THE FOOT - MRI APPEARANCES MIMICKING AN INDETERMINATE SOFT-TISSUE MASS

Subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules occur commonly in advanced cases of rh eumatoid arthritis, but only rarely appear in the feet. We present a c ase of a subcutaneous rheumatoid nodule arising in the heel pad of a 6 8-year-old man with a long history of rheumatoid arthritis, along with a review of the literature. The appearance of the mass on MRI is illu strated and correlated with the histologic findings. The MRI appearanc e of a subcutaneous rheumatoid nodule is that of a nonspecific ill-def ined mass with long T1- and long T2-relaxation times. A differential d iagnosis for similar appearing masses is offered.