In this Issue: July 2018

I would like to thank Dr. O’Brien and the JAOCR for giving me the chance to serve as guest editor for this musculoskeletal radiology issue. The process has given me the opportunity to highlight faculty members and residents I regularly work with at the Oklahoma State University Medical Center. I was also able to work with mentors and colleagues from the University of California, Irvine. Thank you to everyone who eagerly gave their time and dedicated work into completing this outstanding issue. A special thank you to my musculoskeletal mentor, Dr. Hiroshi Yoshioka, for his efforts in advancing MRI of the wrist through extensive research, as well as training the next generation of musculoskeletal radiologists.

The group of topics chosen for this issue was primarily meant to benefit the general practicing radiologist. We focused on topics within musculoskeletal radiology that a general radiologist would see on a normal day of practice. We chose to review extrinsic shoulder impingement and the associated MRI findings. This is a very common clinical entity that often leads to surgical intervention in symptomatic patients. Drs. Smith, Vassiliou, and Pack wrote an excellent review article concerning the important anatomy and pathology of the coracoacromial arch, which can contribute to rotator cuff impingement. The article will assist radiologists in understanding what MRI findings contribute to clinical symptoms of impingement and, in turn, allow them to create expert descriptions of these cases for referring surgeons.

Our other review article, MRI of the Wrist, serves as a companion resource for practicing radiologists when encountering wrist MRI cases. This article stems from my experience with MRI wrist imaging in fellowship, and I am honored to be writing this article with my mentor, Dr. Yoshioka, as well as Drs. Horiuchi and Strle. Reading wrist MRI can be a daunting task for many radiologists, and our aim is for this article to serve as a helpful guide.

The case review articles were chosen to highlight a wide range of musculoskeletal presentations. Drs. Lee and McCay review the differential diagnosis for an intermetatarsal lesion with the diagnosis of intermetatarsal bursitis. Also, Drs. Mason and Kirkland present a patient with a large lipomatous thigh mass. Our Viewbox articles were predominantly written by the radiology residents of Oklahoma State University Medical Center, who were instrumental in putting these articles together: Patellar Tendon-Lateral Femoral Condyle Friction Syndrome, Erosive Osteoarthritis, and Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome.

I am proud of this musculoskeletal radiology issue and thankful for all the authors and their essential contributions. My hope is that our issue entices radiology residents to pursue musculoskeletal radiology as a fellowship, which in my humble opinion, is the BEST specialty! In all seriousness, musculoskeletal radiology is an exciting field that takes continual education and lifelong study to serve as the sharp diagnostic tools that orthopedic specialists require. It is my pleasure to present the latest musculoskeletal issue for the JAOCR.

Last and most importantly, thank you to my wife for her love through the thick, and sometimes very thin, of the medical education process. I could not have gotten here without her unwavering support.