Magnetic resonance imaging of posttraumatic soft tissue disorders

The applications of magnetic resonance imaging with regard to musculoskeletal disorders have continued to expand over the past decade. It is considered to be the preferred imaging method for evaluation of soft tissue processes owing to its marked sensitivity to signal alterations in abnormal tissue, and it is capable of performing this function equally well in processes that affect the muscle, connective tissue, or subcutaneous tissue. In this pictorial essay, a review of many common posttraumatic soft tissue disorders and their characteristic magnetic resonance features, as well as some of the advantages of this imaging method, will be discussed.