R. De La Puente et al., Post-traumatic and stress-induced osteolysis of the distal clavicle: MR imaging findings in 17 patients, SKELETAL RA, 28(4), 1999, pp. 202-208
Objective. To describe the MR imaging findings in patients with osteolysis
of the distal clavicle and to compare the MR imaging appearance of clavicul
ar osteolysis following acute injury with that related to chronic stress.
Design and patients. MR imaging examinations were reviewed in 17 patients (
14 men, 3 women; ages 16-55 years) with the diagnosis of post-traumatic or
stress-induced osteolysis of the clavicle. A history of a single direct inj
ury was present in seven patients and a history of weight-lifting, particip
ation in sports, or repetitive microtrauma was present in 10 patients.
Results. MR imaging showed edema in the distal clavicle in 17 patients and,
of these, eight also had edema in the acromion. The edema was most evident
in STIR and fat-suppressed T2-weighted pulse sequences. Other findings abo
ut the acromioclavicular (AC) joint were prominence of the joint capsule in
14, joint fluid in eight, cortical irregularity in 12, and bone fragmentat
ion in six patients. No differences in the MR imaging features of post-trau
matic and stress-induced osteolysis of the distal clavicle were observed.
Conclusion. Post-traumatic and stress-induced osteolysis of the distal clav
icle have similar appearances on MR imaging, the most common and conspicuou
s MR imaging feature being increased T2 signal intensity in the distal clav
icle.