Ghost sign (osteomyelitis)

Last revised by Frank Gaillard on 19 Apr 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Bilodeau L, Gaillard F, Hacking C, et al. Ghost sign (osteomyelitis). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 24 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-57755

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-57755

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/57755

rID:

57755

Article created:

11 Jan 2018, Laurent Bilodeau

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Laurent Bilodeau had no recorded disclosures.

View Laurent Bilodeau's current disclosures

Last revised:

19 Apr 2021, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Revisions:

4 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Signs

Tags:

diabetes, osteomyelitis, charcot joint

The ghost sign is an MRI feature of osteomyelitis and is helpful in distinguishing a pure (aseptic) Charcot joint from one complicated by superimposed infection.

Radiographic features

MRI

This sign refers to the poor definition of the margins of a bone on non-contrast T1 weighted image, blending with the surrounding inflammatory phlegmon/fluid. After contrast injection, however, the outline of the bone becomes visible once more ¹.