MR imaging of the ischiopubic synchondrosis

The ischiopubic synchondrosis (IPS) is a temporary joint, occurring in childhood prior to fusion of the ischial and pubic bones. On conventional radiographs this tumor-like appearance is a well known normal anatomic variant, however, there are no reports in the literature of the appearance of IPS on MRI. Therefore the purpose of this study was to evaluate typical magnetic resonance features of the IPS. All pelvic MRIs from 1/1992 to 4/1998 of children ranging in age from 4 to 16 years, who were scanned for reasons other than bone disorders, were retrospectively investigated. Twenty-eight children were included and the morphologic appearance of IPS on MRI was evaluated. Seventeen (61%) of these 28 children had the following findings of IPS on MRI. Listed in order of frequency we found signal alteration of the ischiopubic fusion zone [hyperintense on T(2) with fat-saturation (89%) or STIR (74%), hypointense on T(1) (71%)], fibrous "bridging" (68%) [hypointense band on all sequences in perpendicular orientation to the axis of the inferior pubic ramus], fusiform swelling (68%), signal alteration of the adjacent soft tissue (57%) and irregular margins (56%). In 10 children contrast enhanced scans were available for evaluation, showing contrast enhancement of the bone marrow in 83.3% and of the adjacent soft tissue in 66.7%. Fusiform swelling of the ischiopubic fusion zone, signal alteration and contrast enhancement of both the bone marrow and the adjacent soft-tissue are characteristic features of the IPS on MRI, which may be due to mechanical stress at this temporary joint. These features are nonspecific and may resemble tumor, infection or trauma. Fibrous "bridging" was the only finding on MRI, which has not been described for any other entity and thus, it seems to be a characteristic MRI-feature.