Histopathology of Kienböck's disease. Correlation with magnetic resonance and other imaging techniques.

Histopathological studies of extracted whole lunate bones obtained from 10 patients with Stage 3 Kienböck's disease at surgery for tendon-ball replacement were correlated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and tomography images made prior to surgery. A reforming zone, or a reactive interface between the reactive new bone and granulation tissue formation, and new vascularization were observed surrounding the bone necrosis area showing empty lacunae, fatty necrosis, and disappearance of osteoid. Findings of CT, tomography and microradiography of slices of extracted lunate bone confirmed that fractures of the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone occurred secondarily by overloading, and showed the extent of the collapsed area of the lunate. MRI showed complete loss of signal intensity in T1 images of the lesion of the lunate in advanced Stage 3 Kienböck's disease. MRI is at present unable to distinguish bone necrosis, the histological reactive interface or surrounding hyperaemia in detail. However, the low-intensity arc, or the reactive interface present on MRI in early Stage 3, sometimes correlates with the histological findings of osteoid and granulation zones.