Diagnostic Imaging of Diabetic Foot Disorders

Keivan Daneshvar; Helen Anwander

doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2022.01.002

Diagnostic Imaging of Diabetic Foot Disorders

Foot Ankle Clin. 2022 Sep;27(3):513-527. doi: 10.1016/j.fcl.2022.01.002. Epub 2022 Aug 6.

Authors

Keivan Daneshvar¹, Helen Anwander²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: helen.anwander@insel.ch.

PMID: 36096549
DOI: 10.1016/j.fcl.2022.01.002

Abstract

Plain, weight-bearing radiography is the preferred first-line imaging. Dependent on the suspected pathology, further imaging is indicated. In a soft tissue infection, an abscess has to be excluded, for example, with ultrasound. Osteomyelitis has a typical triad including osteolysis, periosteal reaction, and bone destruction in radiography, but signs are often delayed. MRI is the gold standard for diagnosis of osteomyelitis with high intensity in T2-weighted and STIR images and intermediate to decreased reticulated hazy intensity in T1-weighted images. In comparison, bone marrow edema is also bright on the T2-weighted image but the T1-weighted image has a confluent low intensity.

Keywords: CT; Imaging; MRI; Radiography.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Diabetes Mellitus*
Diabetic Foot* / diagnostic imaging
Foot Diseases*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Osteomyelitis* / diagnostic imaging