Imaging in metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia is a common clinical conundrum that requires careful assessment. There are a variety of causes and understanding these can help manage the pain. These causes have different imaging characteristics and require specific imaging. By understanding core imaging principles and how they apply to causes of metatarsalgia, pathology can be more efficiently investigated. This article covers primary, secondary and iatrogenic causes of metatarsalgia with the most appropriate imaging modalities for each and the salient imaging findings. This article reviews the common forefoot pathologies and how they may be optimally radiologically investigated, with an emphasis on the key imaging findings.