Vascular Abnormalities in Athletes: State-of-the-Art Multimodality Imaging

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Sports Medicine
• Vascular Imaging

Background:

• Vascular abnormalities in athletes are uncommon but diagnostically challenging.
• Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe, limb-threatening ischemia or sudden death.
• Accurate diagnosis and management require specialized knowledge and imaging techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of vascular abnormalities in athletes.
• To emphasize the role of multimodality imaging in diagnosis and management.
• To equip radiologists with knowledge for prompt recognition and intervention.

Main Methods:

• Review of upper and lower extremity vascular conditions in athletes.
• Discussion of various imaging modalities: ultrasound (US), CT angiography, MR angiography, conventional angiography.
• Inclusion of systemic vascular conditions affecting athletes.

Main Results:

• Detailed discussion of specific upper extremity conditions (e.g., Paget-Schroetter syndrome, quadrilateral space syndrome).
• Comprehensive review of lower extremity conditions (e.g., endofibrosis, compartment syndrome, popliteal entrapment).
• Exploration of other relevant conditions including venous thromboembolism, aortopathies, and coronary artery disease.

Conclusions:

• Multimodality imaging is pivotal for accurate diagnosis of athletic vascular abnormalities.
• Prompt recognition and early intervention by radiologists can improve patient outcomes.
• This review serves as a guide for identifying a broad spectrum of vascular conditions in athletes.