Describe the findings in this MRI
Mild to moderate joint effusion multiple intra-articular loose bodies seen within the synovial capsule both anterior and posterior to the joint, hypointense on T1 weighted images, hypointense on T2 weighted images (indicating calcified loose bodies), the elbow joint itself appears essentially normal.
What is your diagnosis/ differential diagnosis?
Primary synovial osteochondromatosis and secondary synovial osteochondromatosis
How can we differentiate between primary and secondary osteochondromatosis?
In the primary form, the patient is younger (3rd to 5th decade), no definite cause and the joint is normal. In the secondary form the patient is older with degenerative joint disease.
Mild to moderate joint effusion with multiple intra-articular loose bodies seen within the synovial capsule both anterior and posterior to the joint, these loose bodies range from 3 to 5 mm in diameter each, they appear hypointense on T1 weighted images, hypointense on T2 weighted images (indicating calcified loose bodies). The elbow joint itself appears essentially normal, no signs of erosion, no joint destructive changes, no osteoarthritic changes seen.