Findings

Plain radiographs obtained in August 1986 showed changes of osteoarthritis in the medial compartment, and a subchondral lucency (shown by arrow) and surrounding sclerosis, findings suggestive of osteonecrosis. Bone scintigraphy (left medial | anterior | left lateral) performed one month later showed intense uptake of Tc-99m MDP in the medial condyle of the left femur (shown by arrow). These findings are diagnostic of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee.

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J. Anthony Parker, MD, PhD, jap@nucmed.bih.harvard.edu