Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of PMR.

The cause of musculoskeletal symptoms in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is not clearly defined because joint synovitis may only partially explain the diffuse discomfort. MRI imaging of the shoulders, hip and extremities of patients with PMR has been analyzed. MRI showed that subacromial and subdeltoid bursitis of the shoulders and iliopectineal bursitis and hip synovitis are the predominant and most frequently observed lesions in active PMR. The inflammation of the bursae associated with glenohumeral synovitis, bicipital tenosynovitis and hip synovitis may explain the diffuse discomfort and morning stiffness.