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Quadratus femoris muscle edema in children
1Department of Radiology, Sheba Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Gan, Israel. myriam.d.stern@gmail.com.
Insights
Quadratus femoris muscle edema (QFME) is more common in children than young adults, particularly for orthopedic MRI scans. Its clinical relevance in pediatric patients remains uncertain.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pediatric Imaging
- Musculoskeletal Imaging
Background:
- Quadratus femoris muscle edema (QFME) is a finding on MRI scans.
- The prevalence and significance of QFME in pediatric populations are not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of QFME in pediatric patients undergoing pelvic MRI.
- To compare QFME prevalence between pediatric patients and a control group of young adults.
- To explore the clinical relevance of QFME in pediatric hip and pelvic imaging.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pelvic/hip MRI examinations in pediatric patients (≤18 years) and young adults (19-45 years).
- Independent evaluation by two musculoskeletal radiologists for QFME presence.
- Comparison of QFME prevalence between groups, considering demographics, indications, and pain location.
Main Results:
- QFME was significantly more prevalent in pediatric patients (15% patient level, 12.1% hip level) compared to controls (4.2% patient level, 2.5% hip level).
- This difference was significant for orthopedic indications but not for non-orthopedic indications.
- No correlation was found between the location of pain and the presence of QFME.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric patients exhibit a higher prevalence of QFME compared to adults under 45, especially when scanned for orthopedic reasons.
- The clinical significance of QFME in children and adolescents requires further investigation.
Objective:
To assess the prevalence and clinical relevance of quadratus femoris muscle edema (QFME) in pediatric pelvic MRI.
Materials And Methods:
The axial T2-W with fat saturation sequence of pelvic/hip MRI examinations of pediatric patients (≤ 18 years) and a control group of young adults aged 19-45 years was retrospectively and independently evaluated by two musculoskeletal radiologists for the presence of QFME in each hip. Demographics, indication for imaging studies, and pain location were documented. The prevalence of QFME was compared between the groups on a patient level and on a hip level.
Results:
The study group included 119 children (164 MRI examinations; F:M 1:1.08, mean age 11.4 ± 3.6 years), and 120 young adults, > 18, < 45 years old, served as controls (F:M 1:0.9, mean age 33.7 ± 6.4 years). QFME was significantly more prevalent among the study compared to the control group, both on a patient level (15% and 4.2%, respectively, p < 0.05) and on a hip level (12.1% and 2.5%, respectively, p < 0.05). This significant difference was also seen in the subgroup of MRI studies performed for orthopedic indications but not for non-orthopedic indications. There was no correlation between the side of localized pain and the side with QFME.
Conclusion:
QFME is significantly more prevalent in pediatric patients compared to adults under 45 years old, especially in subjects scanned for orthopedic indications. The clinical relevance of QFME in children and adolescents is unclear.
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