Role of MRI in Evaluation of Non-traumatic Causes of Painful Elbow

Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Evaluation of Non-traumatic Causes of Painful Elbow Joint

• Elbow pain is any type of pain that comes from structures in the elbow joint and/or in structures adjacent to the elbow joint. elbow is a complex joint; it allows to both extension and flexion, as well as rotation hand and forearm. Since most movements are a combination of these actions, Elbow pain is often caused by overuse, but in general, elbow joint is much less prone to wear-and-tear damage than are many other joints. The causes of elbow pain are numerous. Most elbow pain is due to overuse or strain on the elbow joint components, but some causes are due to trauma, infection, and/or autoimmune processes and neoplasm. Risk factors for elbow pain are numerous and range from engaging in repetitive activities and participation in sports to those associated with infection, trauma, and rheumatoid arthritis. Other adjacent structures associated with elbow pain include the shoulder, upper arm, forearm, and wrist and hand joints.

• Health-care professionals diagnose elbow pain mainly by a patient's history and physical exam. Radiologic techniques such as X-ray ,US,CT and MRI are often used to delineate the elbow structures involved. Conventional radiography remains an essential initial test in the evaluation of the elbow and its disorders. One must be familiar with the pertinent anatomy, early developmental changes, and the biomechanics of this complex joint to appreciate subtle injury patterns and articular disorders. In some cases, radiographic imaging will point to the need for further evaluation with CT, MR, or sonographic imaging High-resolution ultrasound is well suited for evaluating the elbow. Ultrasound is growing in popularity and fast becoming another modality that the radiologist can use to help diagnose elbow pathology. ultrasound offers focused and real-time high-resolution imaging of tendons, ligaments, and nerve structures. Its advantages include the use of safe nonionizing radiation, accessibility, and cost effectiveness. Ultrasound is also useful in therapeutic guided injections for its multiplanar capability and clear visualization of major vessels and nerves.
• MR imaging provides clinically useful information in assessing the elbow joint. Superior depiction of muscles, ligaments, and tendons as well as the ability to visualize nerves, bone marrow, and hyaline cartilage directly are advantages of MR imaging relative to conventional imaging techniques. These features of MR imaging may help to establish the cause of elbow pain by accurately depicting the presence and extent of bone and soft-tissue pathology. Ongoing improvements in surface coil design and newer pulse sequences have resulted in higher quality MR images of the elbow that can be obtained more rapidly. This is especially important in MR as the imaging tool that shows a highest soft tissue resolution among other imaging techniques. Recent clinical experience has shown the utility of MR imaging in detecting and characterizing disorders of the elbow in a a noninvasive fashion.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Clinical diagnosis of elbow pain not related by trauma.
2. Cases with self-reported history of overuse, infection, autoimmune disease, bleeding tendency and neoplasm of bone, joint, soft tissue at elbow.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Recent acute traumatic cases.
2. Cases not fulfilling MRI criteria(contraindicated for MRI): metal implant (pacemaker, artificial valve prosthesis ,implantable cardiovascular defibrillator, nerve simulator, intro-ocular implant, cochlear implants, arterial clips, bullets or metal fragments, swan-guns catheter).
3. Pregnancy and breast milk feeding.