MSK Imaging

Question 1

Indirect sign of fracture on X ray

Answer 1

lipohemarthrosis

Question 2

4 X-ray signs of OA

Answer 2

Asymmetric joint narrowing
Osteophytes
Subchondral sclerosis
Subchondral cysts

Question 3

2 X-ray signs of RA

Answer 3

Uniform joint narrowing (as opposed to asymmetric) and erosions (not seen in OA).

Question 4

T1 vs T2 vs fat-saturated T2: Fat, muscle, tendon, bone, fluid
What is T1 good for? What is T2 good for?

Answer 4

• T1: fat is bright, muscle is gray, tendon / ligament / cortical bone / fluid is dark
• T2: fat and fluid are both bright.
• T2 is fluid-sensitive, so it’s good for finding edema. Also good for infection, hemorrhage, tumor, and necrosis.
• T2 fat-saturated: fat is dark, fluid is bright
• General rule: T1 is good for anatomy, T2 is good for pathology.