Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head

Nancy D Baker, MD

May 19, 1994

Presentation

Imaging Findings

An oblique radiograph of the left hip shows a normal joint and normally spherical femoral head with a vague triangular lucency surrounded by sclerosis (arrow) in the anterolateral quadrant of the head of the femur.

The axial computed topogram of both hips shows an area of bone collapse (arrow) in the anterior aspect of the left femoral head.

Coronal T1 MRI of both hips shows diffuse low signal throughout the left femoral head, neck, and proximal shaft. (Compare with opposite normal femur.)

The sagittal T1 MRI of the left hip shows early collapse (arrow) of the anterior aspect of the femoral head.

Axial T2 MRI of both hips shows diffuse high signal in the left femoral head (noted by marked area) consistent with the edema and early collapse (fracture) of avascular necrosis.

Diagnosis

Discussion

References

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