Role of imaging, especially nuclear medicine, in type I Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is primarily a clinical diagnosis based on the Budapest criteria. Imaging may be useful in certain situations. Plain radiography can be performed as a first-line investigation in atypical presentations, particularly in a post-traumatic context; demineralization-type changes may be delayed by several weeks. MRI and bone scintigraphy can help document atypical clinical presentations by revealing abnormalities in both the early and late stages of the disease; it is advisable to specify the suspected clinical stage on the imaging request. Imaging also plays an important role in identifying differential diagnoses. It is essential to emphasize that normal imaging findings do not exclude the diagnosis of CRPS. Recent advances in imaging have contributed to improving diagnostic accuracy, identifying potential pain-generating foci, and enhancing understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms