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Extra-osseous fat fluid level: a specific sign for osteomyelitis

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Abstract

Osteomyelitis may pose as a diagnostic dilemma on various imaging modalities and may be confused with neoplasms and other pathology. Although a rare finding, extra-osseous fat fluid level, especially when associated with spongy bone destruction, can be considered a specific sign of osteomyelitis. Previously, only two cases of extra-osseous fat fluid level in osteomyelitis have been reported, one on computed tomography (CT) and the other on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The former was a case of septic arthritis with intra-articular fat fluid level. A case of osteomyelitis is presented with the demonstration of extra-osseous fat fluid level. Our case is unique in providing exquisite CT and MRI correlation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110018, India

    Jyoti Kumar, Suman Bandhu & Atin Kumar

  2. Department of Orthopedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110018, India

    Shah Alam

Authors
  1. Jyoti Kumar
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  2. Suman Bandhu
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  3. Atin Kumar
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  4. Shah Alam
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Correspondence to Suman Bandhu.

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Kumar, J., Bandhu, S., Kumar, A. et al. Extra-osseous fat fluid level: a specific sign for osteomyelitis. Skeletal Radiol 36 (Suppl 1), 101–104 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-006-0194-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-006-0194-1

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