Abstract
Groin pain is a common issue in athletes, and an accurate diagnosis is crucial for
effective management. The complexity of the groin's anatomy, including the pubic symphysis
and adductor muscles, makes diagnosing injuries in this area challenging. Additionally,
the maturation of the pubic apophysis, particularly in adolescent athletes, can lead
to conditions like apophysitis that are often misdiagnosed as other groin injuries.
A major challenge is the inconsistent terminology, with terms like “athletic pubalgia”
and “sports hernia” used interchangeably, causing confusion. The 2015 Doha Agreement
helped standardize the classification of groin pain into adductor-, iliopsoas-, inguinal-,
and pubic-related types. This review highlights common mistakes in imaging interpretation,
particularly in diagnosing adductor- and pubic-related groin pain. Magnetic resonance
imaging is a key tool, offering superior soft tissue detail that is crucial for accurate
diagnosis, but misinterpretation remains common. This review will help clinicians
and radiologists improve diagnostic accuracy and thus ultimately enhance patient outcomes.
Keywords
groin pain - magnetic resonance imaging - adductor-related groin pain - pubic-related
groin pain - pubic apophysitis
