Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnosis of Chronic Hip Joint Pain in Adults

Abstract

Background: Chronic hip pain is a common problem in adults. In the absence of a known acute trauma, it can be a diagnostic problem as it can be attributed to many causes. The most common causes are avascular necrosis, inflammatory causes, transient osteoporosis or neoplastic lesions. Aim of the Work: The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation and diagnosis of different causes of chronic hip pain in adults. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on thirty patients who had chronic hip pain and they were referred to undergo MR imaging of hip joints in MRI Unit in Al-Hussain Teaching Hospital in Thi-Qar / Iraq and Ain Shams University Hospital in Cairo / Egypt. Conclusion: MRI is an essential imaging modality in musculoskeletal system in general and in hip region specifically. Recommendations: MRI should be done preferably with a limited number of sequences. If the diagnosis is still query or whenever inflammation or a neoplastic process is suspected, we should do other sequences in different imaging planes and go for contrast injection and post contrast studies (T1WI).