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 33 - Triangular fibrocartilage (TFC): tear versus fenestration
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
A triangular fibrocartilage (TFC) tear appears as a linear band of increased signal intensity (Figure 33.1). With complete tears the signal extends to the proximal and distal articular surfaces. MR imaging may demonstrate an asymptomatic defect of the TFC (Figure 33.2).
Importance
With increasing age, defects and central communication within the TFC increase in frequency. Non-communicating TFC defects are worthwhile to record specifically because they can be associated more reliably with symptomatic wrists than communicating TFC defects. Non-communicating and communicating defects of the TFC near the ulnar attachment have a more reliable association with symptomatic wrists than do radial communicating defects.
Typical clinical scenario
Patients with a TFC tear present with ulnar-sided pain. The radial-sided communicating TFC defects are commonly seen bilaterally and in asymptomatic wrists.
Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis includes TFC tear, asymptomatic defects, and pseudotear.
Teaching point
There are no specific differentiating features on MR imaging separating a traumatically induced tear of the TFC from one caused by degeneration. The appearance of these lesions may also be similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals; therefore, determining the clinical relevance of these lesions and their correlation with patients’ symptoms may be difficult.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Pearls and Pitfalls in Musculoskeletal ImagingVariants and Other Difficult Diagnoses, pp. 69 - 70Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2013