Bare spot of the glenoid fossa in children: incidence and MRI features

Background The bare spot of the glenoid fossa is a normal cartilage defect seen frequently in adults. It has been used on arthroscopy as a landmark for the center of the glenoid fossa. There are no reports of this variant in children, but we have noted it on some pediatric clinical shoulder MRI stud...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric radiology 2010-07, Vol.40 (7), p.1190-1196
Main Authors: Kim, Hee Kyung, Emery, Kathleen H., Salisbury, Shelia R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Cartilage Diseases - epidemiology
Cartilage Diseases - pathology
Cartilage, Articular - pathology
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Imaging
Incidence
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - statistics & numerical data
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Neuroradiology
Nuclear Medicine
Ohio - epidemiology
Oncology
Original Article
Pediatrics
Radiology
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Shoulder Joint - pathology
Ultrasound
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Summary:Background The bare spot of the glenoid fossa is a normal cartilage defect seen frequently in adults. It has been used on arthroscopy as a landmark for the center of the glenoid fossa. There are no reports of this variant in children, but we have noted it on some pediatric clinical shoulder MRI studies. Objective Our main purpose is to evaluate the incidence of the bare spot in children and define location and MRI features. Materials and methods Shoulder MRI studies (total 570) from 2004 to 2008 were reviewed. Children were divided into two age groups: group 1, 0–10 years ( n  = 200), group 2, 11–20 years ( n  = 370). Results A total of 12 bare spots (2.1%) were identified; all were seen in group 2. Eight (67%) were central and four were eccentric in the glenoid fossa. All showed a well-marginated focal cartilage defect containing hyperintense joint fluid or contrast agent. Three also had air. Conclusion The bare spot is seen in children. The absence in children younger than 10 years and the low incidence in the second decade support the proposed acquired nature. Familiarity with this finding is important so as not to misinterpret it as a pathologic condition.
ISSN:0301-0449
1432-1998
DOI:10.1007/s00247-009-1494-0