Imaging Modalities for Differentiating Bone Infarction and Osteomyelitis in Sickle Cell Disease: A Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Hematology

Background:

• Sickle cell disease (SCD) causes skeletal complications, including bone infarctions and osteomyelitis.
• These conditions overlap clinically, posing diagnostic challenges and requiring different treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare imaging modalities for differentiating bone infarctions and osteomyelitis in SCD patients.
• To highlight the roles, advantages, and limitations of various imaging techniques.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging modalities: plain radiography, ultrasonography, MRI, bone scans, and labeled leukocyte imaging.
• Emphasis on correlating imaging findings with clinical and laboratory data.

Main Results:

• No single imaging modality is definitive.
• MRI and combined radionuclide imaging show high sensitivity and specificity when integrated with clinical context.
• Limitations of each technique and risk of misdiagnosis are discussed.

Conclusions:

• A multimodal diagnostic approach is essential for accurate diagnosis.
• Integrating imaging with clinical data optimizes patient care for SCD bone complications.
• Understanding imaging characteristics guides specialists in managing acute bone pain in SCD.