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Groin Pain Syndrome pp 25–42Cite as

Radiologic Diagnosis

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Abstract

Radiologic imaging in professional and amateur athletes suffering from groin pain syndrome (GPS) is a difficult but stimulating diagnostic challenge. Athletes who participate mostly in soccer, ice hockey, and tennis frequently undergo acute and chronic injuries in the pelvic, inguinal, and hip regions. Sports with a high incidence of groin injury often involve kicking and twisting movements; groin injury is the fourth most common time-loss injury in professional soccer players.

Establishing a radiologic diagnosis of pathoanatomy of groin injuries is crucial for optimal athlete management, to assess the severity and the extent of damage, to guide treatment and rehabilitation, and to prevent chronic injuries. Athletes nowadays are usually examined with conventional pelvic radiographs (RX), ultrasound (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to detect, in the acute or chronic clinical scenario, the several pathologic conditions such as intra-articular disorders, extra-articular disorders, or osseous abnormalities that can lead to long-standing groin pain syndrome (LSGPS). Radiologic diagnostic imaging in young athletes is usually performed with the intent to limit examinations using ionizing radiation, wherever possible; in selected cases and usually as second-level examinations, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) could be proposed to guide the therapeutic decision. Radiologists should be active members of interdisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals working together to finally make possible a prompt return to athletic activity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kinemove Rehabilitation Center, Via Veterani dello Sport, 1, Pontremoli, 54027, Italy

    Alessio Auci

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  1. Alessio Auci
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Correspondence to Alessio Auci .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care and Research, Cotignola, Ravenna, Italy

    Raul Zini

  2. Knee Orthopaedic and Sport Traumatology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

    Piero Volpi

  3. Kinemove Rehabilitation Center, Pontremoli, Massa Carrara, Italy

    Gian Nicola Bisciotti

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Auci, A. (2017). Radiologic Diagnosis. In: Zini, R., Volpi, P., Bisciotti, G. (eds) Groin Pain Syndrome. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41624-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41624-3_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-41623-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-41624-3

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