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Quantitative [18F]-Naf-PET-MRI Analysis for the Evaluation of Dynamic Bone Turnover in a Patient with Facetogenic Low Back Pain
Published on: August 8, 2019
Magnetic resonance imaging findings related to sacroiliac joint pain in high-performance athletes
Mika Hangai1, Koji Kaneoka2, Michiko Dohi1
1Department of Sport Medicine and Research, Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Kita City, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction in athletes affects competitiveness. However, the pathology and imaging features have not been clarified.
Objective:
To clarify the association between SIJ pain and MRI findings in high-performance athletes.
Methods:
Fifty-two Japanese high-performance athletes with or without SIJ pain were recruited. MRI short tau inversion recovery (STIR) semi-coronal and semi-axial images of their SIJs were taken. The relationships between high-signal changes in MRI-STIR and SIJ pain and pain duration were investigated. Six athletes with continuous SIJ pain were prospectively followed.
Results:
The proportion of athletes with high-signal changes in the SIJ was significantly higher among athletes with SIJ pain for one month or more (76.9%, 10/13) than among athletes with SIJ pain for less than one month (18.2%, 2/11) and among athletes without SIJ pain (28.6%, 8/28). High-signal changes on painful SIJs were most often present in the sacrum. In three of the six athletes who were prospectively followed, the high-signal area and intensity on MRI both diminished as their symptoms improved.
Conclusions:
High-signal changes of the SIJ on MRI-STIR images in high-performance athletes may reflect their SIJ pain.
