“Rice bodies” symptoms on magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

The “rice bodies” symptom on magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder joint in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is a rare but specific finding characterized by the presence of multiple small, round, rice-grain-like structures in the synovial fluid of the joint, synovial pouches, or sheaths. The etiology of the “rice bodies” is still not fully understood. They are suggested as the result of microinfarcts of the synovial membrane in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory joint diseases. Clinically, the “rice bodies” symptom may cause pain, but not in every case. Among radiological diagnostic methods, magnetic resonance imaging is the leading method for the detection of rice bodies. This article presents a clinical case of “rice bodies” symptoms diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with a long history of rheumatoid arthritis who presented with a painless enlargement in the left shoulder. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the left shoulder could detect “rice bodies” as a manifestation of an underlying disease and determine further treatment techniques.