Radiologic Mimics of Osteomyelitis and Septic Arthritis: A Pictorial Essay

Figure 11

Cuboid osteoid osteoma in a 17-year-old presenting with a 2-month history of foot pain. Axial PDFS (a) of the foot shows diffuse marrow oedema-signal in the cuboid and lateral cuneiform with adjacent synovitis and soft tissue oedema. There is T1 marrow replacement of the cuboid ((b), arrow). A fluid-hyperintense nidus, best seen on the fluid-sensitive sequence, is noted in the medial border of the cuboid, with extension into the articular surface (arrow), accounting for the effusion and reactive synovitis (A yellow dash). The nidus is confirmed on the CT ((c), arrow), demonstrating central calcification, and distinguishes the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma from infection.

(a)

(b)

(c)