Magnetic resonance imaging in adolescent symptomatic navicular tuberosity

Background The accessory navicular bone is one of the most common accessory ossicles, which sometimes become symptomatic. Abnormalities in magnetic resonance (MR) image, e.g. edema-like bone marrow pattern, have been reported for symptomatic accessory navicular. However, it has not been completely understood the edema-like bone marrow pattern correlates to the symptom of navicular tuberosity. Methods We investigated the edema-like bone marrow pattern in correlation with alleviation of the symptom and the presence of accessory navicular bone. Ten adolescents with pain localized to the navicular tuberosity were recruited and seven cases were further examined with consecutive MR images. Results Edema-like bone marrow pattern was found in all symptomatic navicular but not in asymptomatic navicular. Intensity of the pattern diminished with alleviation of the symptom. Moreover, this correlation was recognized even in the patients who had no accessory navicular bones. Conclusions MR images could be used not only for diagnosis but for monitor of healing in adolescent symptomatic navicular. There may be different pathologic mechanism for adolescent symptomatic navicular tuberosity, such as an osteitis, in adolescents.