Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Section 1 Shoulder
- Section 2 Arm
- Section 3 Elbow
- Section 4 Forearm
- Section 5 Wrist
- Case 32 Pseudotear of the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC): radial cartilage
- Case 33 Triangular fibrocartilage (TFC): tear versus fenestration
- Case 34 Occult carpal fractures: imaging work-up
- Case 35 Carpal instability: are you looking at a true lateral view of the wrist?
- Case 36 Extensor carpi radialis brevis and longus: synovial fluid versus tenosynovitis
- Case 37 Lunotriquetral carpal coalition: incidental finding
- Section 6 Hand
- Section 7 Hip and Pelvis
- Section 8 Thigh
- Section 9 Leg
- Section 10 Ankle
- Section 11 Foot
- Section 12 Tumors/Miscellaneous
- Index
- References
Case 32 - Pseudotear of the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC): radial cartilage
from Section 5 - Wrist
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Section 1 Shoulder
- Section 2 Arm
- Section 3 Elbow
- Section 4 Forearm
- Section 5 Wrist
- Case 32 Pseudotear of the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC): radial cartilage
- Case 33 Triangular fibrocartilage (TFC): tear versus fenestration
- Case 34 Occult carpal fractures: imaging work-up
- Case 35 Carpal instability: are you looking at a true lateral view of the wrist?
- Case 36 Extensor carpi radialis brevis and longus: synovial fluid versus tenosynovitis
- Case 37 Lunotriquetral carpal coalition: incidental finding
- Section 6 Hand
- Section 7 Hip and Pelvis
- Section 8 Thigh
- Section 9 Leg
- Section 10 Ankle
- Section 11 Foot
- Section 12 Tumors/Miscellaneous
- Index
- References
Summary
Imaging description
Subjacent to the radial attachment of the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC) is the mildly increased signal of hyaline articular cartilage of the distal radius.
Importance
At radial attachment, the TFC inserts on hyaline cartilage and not on cortex; as a result, there is a focus of intermediate signal intensity that represents cartilage between the low-signal intensity radial cortex and low-signal intensity TFC (Figure 32.1).
Typical clinical scenario
A misdiagnosis of a TFC tear may be made if an intermediate to high signal intensity is noted at the radial attachment of the TFC.
Differential diagnosis
Radial hyaline cartilage should not be misinterpreted as a tear. The areas of increased signal intensity at the hyaline cartilage interface can be distinguished from tears by their lack of increased signal on MR images with T2-type contrast. A radial-sided TFC tear, which is usually slit-like, lies medial to the radial articular cartilage.
Teaching point
The MR imaging appearance of TFC is a hypointense disc in all sequences. However, the radial attachment of the TFC often shows an intermediate to high signal intensity which may be a potential imaging pitfall.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Pearls and Pitfalls in Musculoskeletal ImagingVariants and Other Difficult Diagnoses, pp. 67 - 68Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2013