Hersh H Bendre1, Kamilcan Oflazoglu1, Wouter F van Leeuwen1, Hinne Rakhorst2, David Ring3, Neal C Chen4. 1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. 2. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX. 4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Electronic address: nchen1@partners.org.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) signal changes in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the wrist and its relationship to a clinical suspicion of TFCC pathology. The secondary purpose was to study factors that are associated with TFCC signal changes. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we looked for any TFCC signal changes in the reports of MRI findings performed during a 3-year period in 1,134 patients. Demographic characteristics, the categorized indications for MRI, and symptoms at the time of the MRI were also retrieved from the medical records. Patients were divided into 6 groups, based on age, to calculate the proportions of TFCC signal changes in the entire cohort and as an incidental finding among patients without a clinical suspicion of TFCC pathology within each age group. RESULTS: A total of 321 patients (28%) had incidental TFCC signal changes. The prevalence among 18- to 30 year-olds was 19%, and increased to 64% in patients older than 70 years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that an increase in age is significantly associated with having TFCC signal changes on MRI in patients who have a low clinical suspicion of TFCC pathology. The rate of incidental TFCC signal changes steadily increases with age. CONCLUSIONS: The TFCC signal abnormalities on MRI are more common with increasing age in patients with low clinical suspicion of TFCC pathology. At age 70, more than half of all patients will have TFCC signal changes, and more than 90% are present in patients with a low clinical suspicion of TFCC pathology. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic IV.
PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) signal changes in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the wrist and its relationship to a clinical suspicion of TFCC pathology. The secondary purpose was to study factors that are associated with TFCC signal changes. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we looked for any TFCC signal changes in the reports of MRI findings performed during a 3-year period in 1,134 patients. Demographic characteristics, the categorized indications for MRI, and symptoms at the time of the MRI were also retrieved from the medical records. Patients were divided into 6 groups, based on age, to calculate the proportions of TFCC signal changes in the entire cohort and as an incidental finding among patients without a clinical suspicion of TFCC pathology within each age group. RESULTS: A total of 321 patients (28%) had incidental TFCC signal changes. The prevalence among 18- to 30 year-olds was 19%, and increased to 64% in patients older than 70 years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that an increase in age is significantly associated with having TFCC signal changes on MRI in patients who have a low clinical suspicion of TFCC pathology. The rate of incidental TFCC signal changes steadily increases with age. CONCLUSIONS: The TFCC signal abnormalities on MRI are more common with increasing age in patients with low clinical suspicion of TFCC pathology. At age 70, more than half of all patients will have TFCC signal changes, and more than 90% are present in patients with a low clinical suspicion of TFCC pathology. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic IV.
Authors: Anne-Sophie van der Post; Sjoerd Jens; Joost G Daams; Miryam C Obdeijn; Mario Maas; Roelof-Jan Oostra Journal: Clin Anat Date: 2022-04-16 Impact factor: 2.409
Authors: Anne-Sophie van der Post; Sjoerd Jens; Frank F Smithuis; Miryam C Obdeijn; Roelof-Jan Oostra; Mario Maas Journal: Skeletal Radiol Date: 2021-04-17 Impact factor: 2.199