Case 16 - 10 y/o male with left hip pain and limping
Case 16: 10 year old boy with history of left hip pain and limping.
Discussion
Note the abnormal contour and signal characteristics of the left femoral head. There is marked flattening of the epiphysis with abnormal dark signal on both T1 and T2 weighted sequences. Thin, curvilinear, subchondral high T2 signal suggests subchondral collapse. These findings are compatible with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease represents idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Look for loss of normal T1 signal (look at the right hip in this case). Bright T2 signal is seen in the early stages, signifying bone marrow edema. Dark T2 signal is seen in late stages, such as in this case, and signifies sclerosis.
Discussion