AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightThe patients’ demographics andradiological features were reviewed using electronic patient records and hospital-based picture image archiving and communicationsystem.RESULTS: Overall, 1321 individuals (659 females; 662 males) underwent lumbar MRI during the study period, and of these, 485 (238females; 247 males) were further analyzed with a pelvic MRI for differential diagnosis.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Özet
AIM: To discuss the rationale and merit of specific pelvic sequences as an adjunct to routine lumbar magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) for early detection of piriformis syndrome (PS) and to disclose its frequency in patients who underwent radiological evaluation.MATERIAL and METHODS: This retrospective, imaging-based study included all individuals who underwent lumbar MRI andthose who were further evaluated with a pelvic MRI, but excluded all high-energy trauma cases. The patients’ demographics andradiological features were reviewed using electronic patient records and hospital-based picture image archiving and communicationsystem.RESULTS: Overall, 1321 individuals (659 females; 662 males) underwent lumbar MRI during the study period, and of these, 485 (238females; 247 males) were further analyzed with a pelvic MRI for differential diagnosis. Forty patients (8.2%) (23 females; 17 males)were diagnosed with PS—all confirmed with MR neurography (MRN). On re-evaluation of all lumbar and pelvic MRIs and MRNs,we realized that adding just three specific pelvic sequences to routine lumbar MRI scans were enough to accurately delineate thepiriformis muscle pathologies and sciatic nerve intensities. The calculated frequencies of PS in females, males, and the whole studypopulation within 57 months were 3.49%, 2.57%, and 3.03%, respectively.CONCLUSION: Although PS being a clinical diagnosis, this study indicated that in patients whom PS was not suspected at theinitial examination, 8.2% of them were finally diagnosed after MRI evaluations. Performing specific pelvic sequences as an adjunctto routine lumbar MRI can salvage underdiagnosed patients with PS and facilitate early detection of this pathological condition.