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Purpose: To correctly define through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), diagnosis, staging and prognosis of the adductor longus (AL) acute lesions and to identify a correlation between Return to Play (RTP) and sport-related injury predisposing conditions and complications. Materials and methods: Twenty professional football players with acute groin pain and clinical suspicion of AL injury subsequent to sport's activity were evaluated. MRI examinations were performed by one and reviewed by other two radiologists with more than 10 years of experience. Lesions were stratified according to both Munich consensus statement and British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification (BAMIC). Patients were monitored until clinical recovery occurred. Results: According to the Munich consensus statement, 75% of lesions were defined as type 3 and 25%as type 4; while according to the BAMIC, 45% were considered as Grade 1, 20% as Grade 2, 10% as Grade 3, and 25% as Grade 4. RTP was 1–2 weeks for minor lesions (45%), 4–6 weeks for moderate lesions (30%), and more than 6 weeks for complete lesions (25%). Both BAMIC and Munich consensus significantly correlated with RTP (R = 0.958 and 0.974, respectively). The extent of gap was the only independent prognosticator of RTP always present in all three different models of multivariate analysis (p < 0.006, p < 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: MRI represents the gold standard imaging technique for the evaluation of AL due to its ability not only to recognize but also to classify acute lesions and define patient's prognosis. MRI is also useful to detect potential predisposing conditions and complications, which may correlate with RTP.

The authors compared color-Doppler US with angiographic findings in the study of peripheral lower limbs aneurysms. Twelve cases were observed over a 2-year period of time. In each case, the combination of B-mode and color-Doppler US permitted the accurate evaluation of the aneurysm and of the possible compression of adjacent vessels. Angiography, which was considered the gold standard, detected only 8 of 12 cases; in 3 of 8 cases, the actual diameter of the aneurysm was under estimated. The simultaneous visualization of vessel wall and of intraluminal blood flow proved color-Doppler US to be superior to the gold standard in these cases. The authors conclude that color-Doppler US may become the new reference standard in the diagnosis and follow-up of peripheral aneurysms.