MR imaging of bone lesions of the ankle and foot

MR imaging is frequently used to evaluate patients with ankle and foot pain, with or without a relationship to trauma or other known clinical outcomes. Abnormal signal intensity of the bone marrow is the common denominator of all entities described in this article, including bone contusion, fractures, osteonecrosis, transient osteoporosis, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Specific MR imaging features in association with the available clinical and radiographic findings can be helpful not only to supply an accurate diagnosis but also to provide valuable information for staging and proper management of the condition.