What is the significance of the bone marrow edema pattern in the proximal femur?
Bone marrow edema, manifested on MRI as hypointensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on fluid-sensitive images, is a nonspecific finding observed in a variety of disease entities, including osteonecrosis, idiopathic transient osteoporosis of the hip (ITOH), transient bone marrow edema syndrome, and infiltrative neoplasms. Somewhat more characteristic and specific patterns of bone marrow edema can be seen in association with fractures, stress injuries, and infectious and inflammatory diseases.
