Overuse syndromes and injuries involving the elbow: MR imaging findings

Most elbow injuries result not from acute trauma but from repetitive microtrauma and chronic stress overload of the joint. Such "overuse" injuries may be difficult to diagnose clinically. Occasionally, even acute traumatic injuries may be occult radiographically and difficult to detect. In patients with elbow pain of uncertain origin, MR imaging may improve diagnostic specificity and accuracy. In this essay, characteristic MR imaging findings in common traumatic and overuse syndromes of the elbow are illustrated.