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Published on: October 6, 2023
Anatomical features of metacarpal heads that simulate bone erosions: cadaveric study using computed tomography
Clarissa Canella Moraes Carmo1, Gisele Portes Cruz, Debra Trudell
1Department of Radiology, Veterans Affairs Hospital, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA. clacanella@yahoo.com.br
Objective:
The objective of this study was to demonstrate the anatomical features of metacarpal heads that can simulate bone erosions.
Materials And Methods:
After performing computed tomography scanning of 6 cadaveric hand specimens, normal anatomy was identified; the maximum depth, height, and area of the osseous concavities in the ulnar, radial, and intersesamoid aspects of the metacarpal heads were measured. An average value was determined for each of the measurements of the 5 fingers, and statistical analysis was done.
Results:
Three concavities were identified in the first metacarpal head (intersesamoid, ulnar, and radial) and 2 in the others fingers (ulnar and radial). All of them had sharp regular margins without sclerotic reaction. The measurements of these concavities were done.
Conclusions:
We analyzed the normal osseous anatomy of the metacarpal heads. Knowledge of this normal anatomy enables the radiologist to differentiate normal concave regions from bone erosions that accompany a variety of synovial inflammatory diseases.
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