Contribution of magnetic resonance imaging to the diagnosis of eosinophilic granuloma in children

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in 12 patients with biopsy-proven eosinophilic granuloma were studied retrospectively. Signal intensity was variable on T1 images and increased on T2 images and after gadolinium injection. Magnetic resonance imaging identified all the granulomas, as well as accompanying bone marrow and soft tissue changes. In all 12 cases, the lesion appeared larger on MRI displays than on plain roentgenograms. MRI findings had low specificity and consistently tended to overestimate tumor spread, especially when a long limb bone was affected. Chemotherapy was followed by changes in the size and shape of MRI lesions (loss of the high-intensity signal on T2 images and after gadolinium) suggestive of a favorable response to treatment. (authors). 12 refs., 16 figs