Intermetatarsal bursa
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Citation:
Al Kabbani A, Roberts D, Knipe H, et al. Intermetatarsal bursa. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 24 Feb 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-71599
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rID:
71599
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Ayla Al Kabbani had no recorded disclosures.
View Ayla Al Kabbani's current disclosures
Last revised:
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At the time the article was last revised Dai Roberts had no recorded disclosures.
View Dai Roberts's current disclosures
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5 times, by
4 contributors -
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Synonyms:
- Intermetatarsal bursae
- Intermetatarsal bursal spaces
- Intermetatarsal head bursa
Intermetatarsal bursae are small fluid-filled sacs located between the metatarsal heads, cranial to the deep transverse intermetatarsal ligament (DTML).
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Terminology
Intermetatarsal bursae, like any bursae, will distend if there is increased friction between two adjacent structures. They will often occur in conjunction with Morton neuromas, where the term 'bursal neuromal complex' is used.
Radiographic features
The first three intermetatarsal bursae have a transverse diameter of ≤3 mm, which is considered physiologic.
Ultrasound
- compressible, hypoechoic and most often well-defined regions in the intermetatarsal spaces
MRI
- T1: low signal
- T2 and PDFS: high signal
- T1C+: peripheral enhancement
Related pathology
Differential diagnosis
References
- 1. Akash Ganguly, Joanne Warner, Hifz Aniq. Central Metatarsalgia and Walking on Pebbles: Beyond Morton Neuroma. (2018) American Journal of Roentgenology. 210 (4): 821-833. doi:10.2214/AJR.17.18460 - Pubmed
- 2. Zanetti M, Strehle JK, Zollinger H, Hodler J. Morton neuroma and fluid in the intermetatarsal bursae on MR images of 70 asymptomatic volunteers. (1997) Radiology. 203 (2): 516-20. doi:10.1148/radiology.203.2.9114115 - Pubmed
- 3. Theumann NH, Pfirrmann CW, Chung CB, Mohana-Borges AV, Haghighi P, Trudell DJ, Resnick D. Intermetatarsal spaces: analysis with MR bursography, anatomic correlation, and histopathology in cadavers. (2001) Radiology. 221 (2): 478-84. doi:10.1148/radiol.2212010469 - Pubmed
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