ISMRM25 - Decoding the Pain Puzzle: MRI in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

ISMRM & ISMRT Annual Meeting & Exhibition • 10-15 May 2025 • Honolulu, Hawai'i

Decoding the Pain Puzzle: MRI in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Weekend Course

ORGANIZERS: Feliks Kogan, Jamie MacKay

Saturday, 10 May 2025

313A

08:00 - 12:00

Moderators:
All Sections: Abhijit Chaudhari & Rianne van der Heijden

Skill Level: Basic to Advanced

Session Number: WE-02

No CME/CE Credit

Session Number: WE-02

Overview
Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is the number one source of disability worldwide and the primary reason for doctors visits but remains poorly understood. This session aims to discuss the mechanisms and clinical evaluation of pain generators as well as role of MRI in research and clinical studies of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The session is broken up into two parts. In the first half of the session, we will introduce a background to mechanism of chronic pain as well as how we sensitize pain. This will also include the clinical workup and the role of imaging in that workup of patients presenting with MSK pain. In the second half of the session we will provide a review and discussion of novel imaging approaches to study different presentations of musculoskeletal pain.

Target Audience
Researchers and clinicians who are interested in learning about MSK pain mechanisms and interested in developing better imaging markers for improving diagnosis and management of MSK pain.

Educational Objectives
As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to:
• Explain mechanisms of pain generators and sensitization as well as the clinical evaluation and challenges of managing MSK pain; and
• Identify joint imaging markers that may correlate with MSK pain and explain the disconnections of structural damages and pain.

Overview of Musculoskeletal Pain
08:00		Overview of Musculoskeletal Pain & the Role of CNS in Chronic MSK Disorders Kenneth Weber
08:40		Broader Aspects of Pain & Structure-Pain Relationships × Video Permission Withheld Kent Kwoh Impact: Evidence of the association of different MRI structural abnormalities and knee pain have been reported. This relationship is complex and depends on specific MRI structural abnormalities, pain assessment method, and cross-sectional vs. longitudinal studies.
09:20		Radiologic Assessment of Pain & Imaging of Pain Generators Sandip Biswal
10:00		Break & Meet the Teachers
Thematic Topics in Musculoskeletal Pain
10:30		MRI in Back Pain View Presentation Video Alicia Chen Impact: Back pain has a high incidence and morbidity throughout the world. MR imaging is a valuable diagnostic tool with superior soft tissue characterization to identify possible causes of pain. We will review the imaging manifestations of major causes of chronic back pain as well as secondary causes.
11:00		Interventional Treatments for Musculoskeletal Pain View Presentation Video Matthew Bucknor Impact: Key MRI-guided interventions for pain include MRI-guided focused ultrasound and MRI-guided cryoablation. Efficacy and side effect profile may vary substantially by both treatment technique and specific indication.
11:30		Panel Discussion