Review: magnetic resonance imaging is an accurate test for diagnosing foot osteomyelitis.

M e t h o d s Data sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE/ Excerpta Medica (to June 2006), reference lists, and experts in the field. Study selection and assessment: English-language studies that evaluated the diagnostic test performance of MRI in mainly adult patients (≥ 80% of patients ≥ 16 y of age) with foot infection or suspected osteomyelitis of the foot or ankle, using bone biopsy (histologic analysis or culture) as the reference standard. 16 studies (n = 485, mean age range 46 to 66 y) met the selection criteria. Outcomes: Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LRs).