Hand and Wrist Imaging

This issue of Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology focuses on the diagnostic imaging of hand and wrist diseases. Deviating from the journal's usual review style, this issue first offers topic-specific cases to test your diagnostic expertise, followed by case-based reviews on pathology, imaging, and differential diagnoses. Contents on the various topics are presented by renowned specialists.

The first articles deal with anatomical and biomechanical aspects. Gillet et al highlight the distal radioulnar joint and new diagnostic procedures, and Hesse et al draw attention to the periphery of the triangular fibrocartilage complex as a diagnostically neglected area. Cerezal and colleagues then use selected patient cases to illustrate the basic principles underlying the complex anatomy of the wrist. Finally, Grunz et al explain that the lunate bone is central to the wrist and can therefore be damaged in various ways.

The second part focuses on cystic and solid lesions of the osseous hand skeleton and its soft tissues. Reidler et al describe the different manifestations of cystic bone lesions, despite their apparent uniformity. Their article is followed by two overviews of soft tissue tumors of the hand. Goller and Sutter present the etiology and imaging aspects of cystic soft tissue lesions; Popp et al analyze solid soft tissue tumors in detail with regard to their imaging presentation.

The third part deals with inflammatory diseases of the hand. Diekhoff and Ulas present the various forms of crystal arthropathies, including rare deposition entities beyond gout and calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition arthropathy. Bollow and Schmitt discuss innovations in the imaging-based diagnosis of systemic sclerosis, referring to early signs visible on magnetic resonance imaging and involvement patterns seen in arteriograms.

The final section of this special issue focuses on impairments to finger function. Vanhoenacker introduces a broad spectrum of bony, articular, and soft tissue causes of finger swelling. Traumatic, degenerative, and inflammatory tendon pathologies of the fingers and wrist are also covered. Rosskopf provides a comprehensive overview of disorders of the extensor tendon, the central and collateral bands and the extensor hood, while Bayer discusses flexor tendon lesions, including those affecting the ring and cruciate ligaments.

I hope we have piqued your interest in specialized imaging of the hand and wish you a fruitful experience as you gain new diagnostic insights.

Publication History

Article published online:
03 December 2025