Evaluating Diabetic Foot Infection with Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Kuwait Experience

Vol. 14, No. 3, 2005

Free Abstract Article (References) Article (PDF 310 KB)

Original Paper

Evaluating Diabetic Foot Infection with Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Kuwait Experience
Hanaa A. Al-Khawari^a, Osama M. Al-Saeed^a, Taleb H. Jumaa^b, Fayaz Chishti^b

^aDepartment of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, and
^bDepartments of Surgery and Radiology, Al-Amiri Hospital, Kuwait

Address of Corresponding Author

Med Princ Pract 2005;14:165-172 (DOI: 10.1159/000084634)

Key Words

Magnetic resonance imaging
Diabetic foot infection
Diabetic foot osteomyelitis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to depict and characterize the changes seen in diabetic foot infections. Subjects and Methods: MRI studies of 29 diabetic patients with suspected foot infection were evaluated. Sagittal and transverse T₁-weighted images before and after intravenous gadolinium, and transverse fat-suppressed T₂-weighted images were performed on the affected regions. The MRI findings were compared to subsequent clinical and/or histopathological findings. Results: The MRI findings were: osteomyelitis in 14 patients, abscess in 5, cellulitis in 26, tenosynovitis in 4 and neuropathic joint in 8. Three cases were normal. Pathological confirmations were obtained in 19 patients. MRI and histological diagnosis were in concordance in 79% of osteomyelitis cases, 100% of neuropathy cases and 100% of cellulitis cases. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI in diagnosing osteomyelitis were 100 and 63%, respectively. The positive predictive and negative predictive values, and the accuracy were 79, 100 and 84%, respectively. MRI helped surgical planning for limb salvage procedures in 6 of the osteomyelitis cases and in a cellulitis case. Conclusion: The results indicate that MRI is a sensitive and accurate imaging modality for the evaluation of foot infections in diabetic patients and for planning proper treatment.

Author Contacts

Dr. Hanaa Al-Khawari
Kuwait University, Faculty of Medicine
Department of Radiology, PO Box 24923
13110 Safat (Kuwait)
Tel./Fax +965 5330473, E-Mail drhana@yahoo.com

Article Information

Received: July 19, 2003
Revised: April 4, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 30

Medline Abstract (ID 15863990)

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