Abstract
Objectives
To increase the clinical awareness of piriformis muscle syndrome (PMs) by reporting cross-sectional imaging findings, the clinical impact of imaging studies and treatment outcome.
Methods
Within a 10-year-period, 116 patients referred for radiological evaluation of clinically suspected PMs, with excluded lumbar pathology related to symptomatology, were prospectively studied with MRI and/or computed tomography (CT). Piriformis muscle (PM), sciatic nerve (SN), piriformis region and sacroiliac joints were evaluated. PMs was categorised into primary/secondary, according to a reported classification system. Treatment decisions were recorded. Outcome was categorised using a 3-point-scale.
Results
Seventy-four patients (63.8%) exhibited pathologies related to PMs. Primary causes were detected in 12 and secondary in 62 patients. PM enlargement was found in 45.9% of patients, abnormal PM signal intensity/density in 40.5% and sciatic neuritis in 25.7%. Space-occupying lesions represented the most common related pathology. Treatment proved effective in 5/8 patients with primary and 34/51 patients with secondary PMs. In 34 patients, imaging revealed an unknown underlying medical condition and altered treatment planning.
Conclusions
Secondary PMs aetiologies appear to prevail. In suspected PMs, PM enlargement represented the most common imaging finding and space-occupying lesions the leading cause. Imaging had the potential to alter treatment decisions.
Key Points
• In clinically suspected PMs cross-sectional imaging may reveal variable pathology.
• Secondary PMs aetiologies appeared to be more common than primary.
• PM enlargement represented the most common imaging finding in clinically suspected PMs.
• Space-occupying lesions in the piriformis region represented the leading cause of PMs.
• In clinically suspected PMs cross-sectional imaging may alter treatment planning.
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Abbreviations
- CT:
-
Computed tomography
- DGS:
-
Deep gluteal syndrome
- MRI:
-
Magnetic resonance imaging
- MRN:
-
Magnetic resonance neurography
- PM:
-
Piriformis muscle
- PMs:
-
Piriformis muscle syndrome
- SN:
-
Sciatic nerve
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Guarantor
The scientific guarantor of this publication is Apostolos H. Karantanas.
Conflict of interest
The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.
Funding
This study has received funding from the ‘Young Researchers Grant’ awarded by the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR).
Statistics and biometry
One of the authors has significant statistical expertise.
Ethical approval
Institutional Review Board approval was obtained.
Informed consent
Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study.
Study subjects or cohorts overlap
Some study subjects have been previously reported in ECR 2011 (Scientific Paper; Poster No.: C-0772; Title: ‘Primary and secondary piriformis syndrome: a cross sectional imaging study’).
Methodology
• prospective
• observational study
• performed at one institution
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Vassalou, E.E., Katonis, P. & Karantanas, A.H. Piriformis muscle syndrome: A cross-sectional imaging study in 116 patients and evaluation of therapeutic outcome. Eur Radiol 28, 447–458 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-4982-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-4982-x