TY - JOUR T1 - The Microanatomic Basis of Finger Clubbing — A High-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 523 LP - 527 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.130823 VL - 41 IS - 3 AU - Junichi Nakamura AU - Nicola Ann Halliday AU - Eiji Fukuba AU - Aleksandra Radjenovic AU - Steven F. Tanner AU - Paul Emery AU - Dennis McGonagle AU - Ai Lyn Tan Y1 - 2014/03/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/41/3/523.abstract N2 - Objective. Hypervascularization in finger clubbing is recognized, but its microanatomical basis remains unclear. This pilot descriptive study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore this further. Methods. High-resolution MRI acquired with contrast agent was carried out in 4 patients with finger clubbing and 4 healthy volunteers. The anatomy of the nail bed, capsular structures, and bony changes were described. Results. Marked nail bed thickening and contrast enhancement was noted in all clubbed fingers, with bone edema in 3 of the 4 patients. None of the healthy subjects had similar abnormalities. Conclusion. This confirms that hypervascularization of the nail bed observed in the microanatomy on high-resolution MRI is associated with clubbed appearances of the nails. ER -