Skip to main content
Log in

The penumbra sign in subacute osteomyelitis

  • Tips and Tricks
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The penumbra sign is a characteristic magnetic resonance (MR) feature of subacute osteomyelitis. It can be identified on unenhanced T1-weighted spin echo images as a discrete peripheral zone of marginally higher signal intensity than the central bony abscess cavity and the surrounding lower signal intensity of the reactive new bone and oedema.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Grey AC, Davies AM, Mangham DC, Grimer RJ, Ritchie DA (1998) The penumbra sign on T1-weighted MR imaging in subacute osteomyelitis: frequency, cause and significance. Clin Radiol 53:587–592

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Martí-Bonmatí L, Aparisi F, Poyatos C, Vilar J (1993) Brodie abscess: MR imaging appearance in 10 patients. J Magn Reson Imaging 3:543–546

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Zimmerman RD, Weingarten K (1991) Neuroimaging of cerebral abscesses. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 1:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  4. Roberts JM, Drummond DS, Breed AL, Chesney J (1982) Subacute hematogenous osteomyelitis in children: a retrospective study. J Pediatr Orthop 2:249–254

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Baxter Willis R, Rozencwaig R (1996) Pediatric osteomyelitis masquerading as skeletal neoplasia. Orthop Clin North Am 27:625–634

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Oudjhane K, Azouz EM (2001) Imaging of osteomyelitis in children. Radiol Clin North Am 39:251–266

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Guermazi A, Mohr A, Genant HK (2003) Brodie abscess: another type of chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis. Eur Radiol 13:1750–1752

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Marui T, Yamamoto T, Akisue T, Nakatani T, Hitora T, Nagira K, Yoshiya S, Kurosaka M (2002) Subacute osteomyelitis of long bones: diagnostic usefulness of the penumbra sign on MRI. Clin Imaging 26:314–318

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Williams HJ, Davies AM, Allen G, Evans N, Mangham DC (2004) Imaging features of intraosseous ganglia: a report of 45 cases. Eur Radiol. DOI 10.1007/s00330-004-2371-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. M. Davies.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Davies, A.M., Grimer, R. The penumbra sign in subacute osteomyelitis. Eur Radiol 15, 1268–1270 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2435-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2435-9

Keywords

Navigation