Rice bodies (musculoskeletal)
Updates to Article Attributes
Rice bodies are multiple small loose intra-articular bodies that macroscopically resemble polished grains of white rice. They are located in the synovial fluid, bursae or tendon sheaths 4.
Clinical presentation
Rice bodies can range from asymptomatic to causing joint pain, effusion and occasionally mechanical symptoms such as locking.
Pathology
The pathogenesis of these loose bodies has been debated and is probably multifactorial. Proposed theories suggest that it may be due to shedding of infarcted synovium, a nidus of cellular debris 7 or they may develop independently subsequently becoming encased by fibrin 1,2 with different levels of organisation.
They are most commonly seen in rheumatoid arthritis 4 but may also be seen in 1-3:
Radiographic features
MRI
- T1: iso-hypointense
- T2: hypointense
- T1 + Gad: non-enhancing
If tightly packed, they may be hard to differentiate especially if isodense to joint effusion.
Differential diagnosis
-
synovial chondromatosis
- high T2 signal (when non-mineralised)
See also
-<li><a title="Tuberculous arthropathy" href="/articles/tuberculous-arthropathy-1">tuberculous arthritis</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/tuberculous-arthropathy-1">tuberculous arthritis</a></li>
Image 4 Ultrasound (Oblique) ( create )
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