Comparative investigation of clinical and radiological symptoms, three phase bone scan and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy

The results of clinical, radiological, three phase bone scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations in 17 patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) are reported. Characteristic clinical symptoms, positive radiographic and scintigraphic findings were compared with the MRI. Soft tissue and bone signal intensity changes in MRI as well as bone scan demonstrated significant correlation to the duration of RSD. In conjunction with scintigraphy soft tissue diagnostic sensitivity and specifity are 1, 0.67 or 0.71 respectively. Bone signal diagnostic sensitivity and specifity are 0.5 or 0.67 respectively and 0.93 or 0.87 respectively. According to the results MRI appears to be of much value in establishing the diagnosis of RSD. In consequence a diagnostic schedule is evaluated. (authors)