Juxta-articular large cell lymphoma

Three patients with juxta-articular large cell lymphoma presented as suffering from monarthropathies. A spectrum of radiographic changes was observed that included subchondral sclerosis, regional osteopenia, effusion, and mottled lytic changes in the juxta-articular region of the affected joint. MRI was performed in two patients. In one, it revealed a high signal mass on T2-weighted sequences. In the second, a mass bridging the joint was demonstrated which was difficult to appreciate on CT and was not visible radiographically. In all cases, biopsies revealed large cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of bone. We present these studies to emphasize this unusual pattern of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as well as to demonstrate the contribution of MRI to the diagnosis.