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Musculoskeletal Manifestations of Sickle Cell Disease¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Central Middlesex Hospital, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, Acton Lane, Park Royal, London NW10 7NS, England (V.C.E., A.L.H., P.J.S.); Department of Radiology, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, London, England (M.M.); and Department of Radiology, Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Wycombe, England (R.R.M.). Presented as an education exhibit at the 2005 RSNA Annual Meeting. Received July 26, 2006; revision requested October 19 and received February 2, 2007; accepted February 16. All authors have no financial relationships to disclose. Address correspondence to V.C.E. (e-mail: v.ejindu{at}nhs.net).

Sickle cell disease results from the presence of abnormal ß globin chains within hemoglobin and may be manifested in anemia, vaso-occlusion, and superimposed infection. The gene that causes sickle cell disease is particularly prevalent in populations of African origin; approximately 8% of African Americans and 40% of the members of some African tribes carry the gene for hemoglobin S. Over time, the disease produces various musculoskeletal abnormalities as a result of chronic anemia; these include marrow hyperplasia, reversion of yellow marrow to red marrow, and, occasionally, extramedullary hematopoiesis. Familiarity with the imaging features of sickle cell disease is important for the diagnosis and management of complications. Ischemia and infarction are common complications that may have long-term effects on the growth of bone; these conditions have characteristic radiographic appearances. Infection may be more difficult to identify. Both infection and infarction may occur in muscle and soft tissue alone, without involving bone. However, osteomyelitis must be diagnosed early and treated immediately to prevent bone destruction and deformity; therefore, care must be taken to achieve an accurate diagnosis by identifying or excluding bone involvement. The clinical and radiographic features of acute osteomyelitis may be particularly difficult to distinguish from those of bone infarction. In that context, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may be useful. At MR imaging, findings of cortical defects, adjacent fluid collections in soft tissue, and bone marrow enhancement are suggestive of infection.

© RSNA, 2007