Musculoskeletal Infection: The Great Mimickers on Imaging

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Orthopedics
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Musculoskeletal infections like osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and spondylodiscitis can be challenging to diagnose.
• Imaging findings of these infections can be mimicked by various non-infectious conditions.
• Accurate differentiation is crucial for appropriate patient management and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a comprehensive overview of conditions that mimic musculoskeletal infections on imaging.
• To focus on mimics of common infections: osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and infectious spondylodiscitis.
• To aid clinicians in differentiating infectious from non-infectious musculoskeletal disorders.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging characteristics of common musculoskeletal infections.
• Presentation of diverse conditions that mimic these infections across different anatomical sites (axial skeleton, long bones, joints, soft tissues).
• Comparative analysis of imaging findings for infectious and mimicking conditions.

Main Results:

• A wide spectrum of musculoskeletal disorders can present with imaging findings similar to infections.
• Mimics vary depending on the anatomical location and the specific infection being considered.
• Typical imaging features of osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and spondylodiscitis are contrasted with their mimics.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing imaging mimics of musculoskeletal infections is essential for accurate diagnosis.
• Differential diagnosis should include non-infectious etiologies presenting with similar imaging features.
• Improved diagnostic accuracy leads to more effective and timely treatment strategies for patients.