[Osteochondrosis deformans coxae juvenilis (Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease) in the MR tomogram: diagnosis and follow-up assessment correlated with x-rays and skeletal scintigraphy].

23 children with Legg-Perthes' disease (25 affected hips) were prospectively evaluated via MRI, bone scintigraphy and conventional radiography both at first presentation and during follow-ups. For the early diagnosis of LCPD MRI was similar as sensitive as isotope bone scan and more precise than conventional radiography. The extent of the necrotic area within the epiphysis could be better assessed by MRI than by conventional radiography. Providing a more detailed depiction of bone marrow and soft tissues MRI showed exactly the position and contour of the femoral head including the femoral and acetabular cartilage. The loss of containment of the femoral head could be diagnosed earlier by MRI than by conventional radiography. A system of staging of LCPD oriented towards the pathogenesis of the disease was possible with MRI in school age children, at least when comparing the tomograms with earlier studies. Scintigraphy was the most reliable imaging technique to determine the onset of revascularisation.