['To study with MRI the hands of consecutive PMR patients, who were not selected on the basis of peripheral arthritis, with a correlation to clinical and laboratory findings.', 'Twenty-six hands of 15 PMR patients and 26 hands of 13 healthy controls were studied by extremity-dedicated MRI for the presence of synovitis, tenosynovitis, soft-tissue oedema, bone marrow oedema and erosions.', 'Sixteen (61.6%) of the 26 PMR hands and 4 (15.4%) of the 26 control hands showed tenosynovitis (P\u2009=\u20090.001). Extensor tendon tenosynovitis was seen in 9 (34.6%) of the 26 PMR hands, but in only 1 (3.8%) control hand (P\u2009=\u20090.002) and flexor tenosynovitis was seen in 12 (46.1%) of the 26 PMR hands and in 4 (15.4%) of the 26 control hands (P\u2009=\u20090.03). All other features were similar in the two groups.'] Is polymyalgia rheumatica associated with extensor tendon tenosynovitis but not with synovitis of the hands : a magnetic resonance imaging study?