MRI value in characterization of tendon and ligament lesions of the fingers

Abstract

Background: MR imaging is a powerful method for characterization of swellings arising from the tendon sheath especially giant cell tumors and ganglion cyst of the tendon sheath. A trigger finger is a common condition and is either blockage or triggering of the finger from flexion to extension.
Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI in non-traumatic finger tendon and ligament-related lesions to allow a more focused assessment of the soft tissue structures of this region.
Patients and methods: This study was performed in Radiology Department, Menoufia University Hospitals, during the period from August 2018 to April 2020. This study included 44 patients; 25 males, 19 females with an age range from 13 years to 58 years (mean age 35 years). In terms of clinical presentation, 73% of cases presented by swelling and cases presented by pain were 27%.
Results: Primary diagnosis by MRI revealed 50% of cases were giant cell tumors, 25% were ganglion cysts and the remainder were hemangiomas, MRI detection of characterization represented by 100%, the results then compared with pathology and laboratory results with accuracy of MRI in the detection of tissue characterization is 93.3%, MRI evidence of non-traumatic tenosynovitis constituted about 75% of all cases of tenosynovitis. On the other hand, only 25% of cases had a radiological diagnosis of trigger finger.
Conclusions: MRI is a great assessment of the tendon and ligaments tear whether partial or complete, any associated marrow edema or bony fragment avulsion, and the extent of retraction in cases of a complete tear.