[The early diagnosis of Perthes disease: the value of bone scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging in comparison with x-ray findings].

The value of conventional radiology, bone scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the early diagnosis of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) was assessed. The initial results were compared with the clinical and radiological findings of long-term follow-up in 43 children. Radiological and scintigraphic examination resulted in a relatively high number of equivocal findings (16% and 10%, respectively). MRI findings were less equivocal (3%). Depending on whether such findings were classified as normal or as pathological, the diagnostic accuracy ranged as follows: radiography 88-93%, bone scintigraphy 88-91%, and MRI 97-99%. Therefore, MRI by itself seems to be sufficient to detect or exclude LCPD. The results of this study and the radiation exposure associated with radiography and scintigraphy raise the question whether MRI should be the diagnostic method of choice in patients with suspected LCPD.