Clinical Case: Metatarsalgia
Case Presentation
A 25-year-old female patient, an athlete, presents with metatarsalgia with onset after exercise. The pain improves with rest but worsens with movement. Initial X-ray studies show no evident bone lesions.
Imaging Findings
MRI reveals significant findings. On axial T1, coronal STIR, and sagital STIR planes, there is thickening of the medial cortex of the second metatarsal, accompanied by bone edema and edema of the adjacent soft tissues.
Differential Diagnoses
The first diagnosis to consider is a stress fracture. However, the clinical picture also requires evaluation of:
1. Sesamoiditis – inflammation of the sesamoids
2. Freiberg’s disease – bone infarction of the head of the second metatarsal
Additional Resources
The article references specialized papers on forefoot pain and stress fractures in athletes, providing an updated diagnostic algorithm for this common condition in athletic patients.
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This material was automatically translated from medicosradiologos.com.ar
