Ara Kassarjian, MD, FRCPC
Consultant musculoskeletal radiologist involved in the care of elite and professional athletes in the United States since 2002 and Europe since 2006 including serving as a tournament physician at the Madrid Open Tennis tournament since 2008. On faculty for over 50 national and international radiology and orthopaedics courses/conferences.
Extensive experience in MRI and MR arthrography in both academic and private settings. Former Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School and Division of Musculoskeletal Radiology and Intervention at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and former Director of Musculoskeletal MRI and CT at MGH. Over 50 publications in scientific journals.
Over 10 years of national and international teleradiology experience in musculoskeletal and emergency radiology.
Recent presentations
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International Day of Radiology. Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Médicos de Madrid. Madrid, Spain. November 2019.
Medicina deportiva en tiempo real: el role de radiólogo
International Skeletal Society (ISS) Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada, September 2019
Adolescent Foot and Ankle Injuries
Interdisciplinary Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and MRI Course Auckland. Auckland, New Zealand. March 2019.
Fundamentals of Wrist MRI
Fundamentals of Hip MRI
Fundamentals of Knee MRI
European Congress of Radiology Annual Meeting. Vienna, Austria. March 2019.
Symphysis Pubis and Its Surroundings
Spanish Society of Skeletal Radiology (SERME) Annual Meeting. Tenerife, Spain. February, 2019.
Sports Injuries in Adolescents
Muscle Injuries in Sports. Barcelona, Spain. October 2018.
The Future of MRI in Muscle Injuries
IDKD course, Athens, Greece. September 2018
1. Shoulder Instability
2. Elbow MRI
Spanish Association of Football Team Physicians (AEMEF). Malaga, Spain. May 2018.
Advances in MRI. Does it help us or hinder us?
ESSR Sports Course. Zurich, Switzerland. April 2018.
1. Pelvic Fractures and Hip Dislocation.
2. Ankle Impingement Syndromes
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Fifth Barcelona Musculoskeletal MRI Course. TMC Academy. Barcelona, Spain. October 2017
1. Imaging of Groin and Extra-articular Hip Impingement Syndromes.
2. MR Imaging of Elbow and Wrist Injuries in Tennis Players
Interactive session
Erasmus course: MRI of the Musculoskeletal System. Valencia, Spain. September 2017.
1. Bone marrow changes in Elite Athletes.
2. Sport-specific Injuries
Interactive sessions
ESSR Outreach course, Yerevan, Armenia May 2017
1. Upper extremity trauma
2. Lower extremity trauma
3. Pelvis/groin trauma
4. Advanced concepts-MRI
5. Sports trauma cases
IDKD course, Davos, Switzerland, March 2017
Shoulder Instability
7th annual Madrid Young Hip Meeting, Madrid, Spain March 2017
1. Hip Cartilage Imaging: 2017 update
2. Extra-articular hip impingement
European Congress of Radiology. Vienna, Austria. March 2018
Acetabular fractures
ISMEC International Sports Medicine Course, Sevilla, Spain March 2017
MRI of Muscle Injuries
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European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology Outreach Program, Krakow, Poland, November 2016
1. Rectus Femoris: MR anatomy and pathology
2. MR of Hip and groin pain (non-FAI)
3. MRI of Ballet Injuries
1st Annual Course on Advanced Musculoskeletal MRI, Mallorca, Spain, October 2016
1. MRI of elbow injuries in tennis players
2. MRI of wrist injuries in tennis players
International Skeletal Society Outreach Program. Split, Croatia. October 2016.
1. MRI of the rotator cuff with arthroscopic correlation
2. MRI of elbow and wrist injuries in tennis
3. MRI of foot and ankle injuries in ballet
Barcelona MuscleTech Network Workshop, Barcelona, Spain, October 2016
MR Imaging of Rectus Femoris Injuries
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Warwick Sports Hip 2016. Warwick, UK. June 2016.
Imaging of Hip Cartilage: 2016 Update
MRI of peritrochanteric lesions, ischiofemoral impingement, and deep gluteal syndrome.
European Society of Skeletal Radiology Annual Meeting, Zurich, Switzerland. June 2016
MR of postero-medial and postero-lateral elbow impingement
Sociedad Española de Radiología Médica (SERAM)/Spanish National Radiological Association. Annual Meeting, Bilbao, Spain. May 2016.
Imaging of groin and extra-articular hip pain
Barcelona Hip Meeting. Barcelona, Spain. April 2016
Hip Cartilage: 2016 update
Extra-articular hip impingement
European Congress of Radiology. Vienna, Austria. March 2016
Acetabular fractures
Santander All Joint Arthroscopy Meeting. Santander, Spain. February 2016
1. MRI of the ankle and foot
2. MRI of shoulder instability
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Second International Lisbon Hip Symposium. Hospital La Luz. Lisbon, Portugal. November 2015
1. Hip Cartilage Imaging: 2015 update
2. Extra-articular (non-FAI) Hip Impingement Syndromes
3. Imaging After Hip Arthroscopic Surgery
Third Barcelona Musculoskeletal MRI Course. TMC Academy. Barcelona, Spain. November 2015
Imaging of Groin and Extra-articular Hip Pain.
Interactive session
European Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology (ESMRMB) School of MRI. Advanced Musculoskeletal Imaging Course. November 2015. Alcorcón, Spain. November 2015
MR Imaging of the Hip and Pelvis
European Society of Skeletal Radiology (ESSR) Sports Imaging Course. Munich, Germany. October 2015.
MRI of Groin Pain in Athletes
Aspetar Hospital Grand Rounds. Doha, Qatar. November 2014.
MRI of ballet injuries.
Aspetar 1st World Conference on Groin Pain in Athletes. Doha, Qatar. November 2014
Groin pain: Pathology and correlation with MR imaging findings.
ISMEC Shoulder injuries in athletes. Instructional Course. Sevilla, Spain. October 2014.
1. MRI of shoulder instability
2. MRI of glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD)
3. MRI of Biceps and SLAP lesions
Sociedad Española de Radiología Médica (SERAM)/Spanish National Radiological Association. Annual Meeting. Oviedo, Spain. May 2014.
Coxalgia: Beyond Cam and Pincer.
Hip Pathology in Young Adults. European Hip Society and European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Instructional Course. Madrid, Spain. March 2014
1. MR imaging of hip cartilage
2. MRI of the acetabulum and labrum
Santander All Joint Arthroscopy Meeting. Santander, Spain. February 2014
1. MRI of the ankle and foot
2. MRI of the rotator cuff
3. MRI of shoulder instability
Sociadad Española de Radiología Músculo-esquelética (SERME)/Spanish Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology. Annual meeting. Gijón, Spain. February 2014.
The eternal pubalgia: 2014 update
European Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology (ESMRMB) School of MRI. Bilbao, Spain. November 2013.
MR imaging of the Hip and Pelvis
Interactive sessions
European Society of Radiology, GALEN Advanced Course Musculoskeletal Cross-Sectional Imaging. Helsinki, Finland. September 2013
Musculoskeletal Impingement Syndromes: normal vs. abnormal.
Interactive sessions
European Congress of Radiology, Vienna, Austria. March 2013
Imaging of orthopaedic trauma.
(ECR Mini-course: Beauty of Basic Knowledge)
Santander Hip Meeting. Santander, Spain. February 2013
1. Imaging of deep gluteal syndrome and ischiofemoral impingement
2. MRI of the peritrochanteric space
3. MRI of the acetabular labrum
Selected publications
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Balius R, Pedret C, Kassarjian A. Sports Med. 2020 Dec 17. doi: 10.1007/s40279-020-01387-5. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33332013
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Sports-related lower limb muscle injuries: pattern recognition approach and MRI review.
Isern-Kebschull J, Mechó S, Pruna R, Kassarjian A, Valle X, Yanguas X, Alomar X, Martinez J, Pomés J, Rodas G.Insights Imaging. 2020 Oct 7;11(1):108. doi: 10.1186/s13244-020-00912-4. PMID: 33026534
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The Lisbon Agreement on Femoroacetabular Impingement Imaging-part 1: overview.
Mascarenhas VV, Castro MO, Rego PA, Sutter R, Sconfienza LM, Kassarjian A, Schmaranzer F, Ayeni OR, Dietrich TJ, Robinson P, Weber MA, Beaulé PE, Dienst M, Jans L, Lalam R, Karantanas AH, SudoÅ‚-SzopiÅ„ska I, Anderson S, Noebauer-Huhmann I, Vanhoenacker FM, Dantas P, Marin-Peña O, Collado D, Tey-Pons M, Schmaranzer E, Llopis E, Padron M, Kramer J, Zingg PO, De Maeseneer M, Afonso PD.Eur Radiol. 2020 Oct;30(10):5281-5297. doi: 10.1007/s00330-020-06822-9. Epub 2020 Jul 17. PMID: 32405754
(see also parts 2 and 3 PMID: 33411052 PMID: 33411053)
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Hip Hype: FAI Syndrome, Amara's Law, and the Hype Cycle. Kassarjian A. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2019 Jan 30. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1677695. PMID: 30699445
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Consensus recommendations on the classification, definition and diagnostic criteria of hip-related pain in young and middle-aged active adults from the International Hip-related Pain Research Network, Zurich 2018.
Reiman MP, Agricola R, Kemp JL, Heerey JJ, Weir A, van Klij P, Kassarjian A, Mosler AB, Ageberg E, Hölmich P, Warholm KM, Griffin D, Mayes S, Khan KM, Crossley KM, Bizzini M, Bloom N, Casartelli NC, Diamond LE, Di Stasi S, Drew M, Friedman DJ, Freke M, Gojanovic B, Glyn-Jones S, Harris-Hayes M, Hunt MA, Impellizzeri FM, Ishøi L, Jones DM, King MG, Lawrenson PR, Leunig M, Lewis CL, Mathieu N, Moksnes H, Risberg MA, Scholes MJ, Semciw AI, Serner A, Thorborg K, Wörner T, Dijkstra HP. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Jan 20. pii: bjsports-2019-101453. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-101453. PMID: 31959678
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Overuse Injuries of the Wrist.
Llopis E, Restrepo R, Kassarjian A, Cerezal L. Radiol Clin North Am. 2019 Sep;57(5):957-976. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2019.05.001 PMID: 31351544
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Current Concepts in Extra-articular Impingement of the Hip: Clinical Diagnosis, Imaging, and Treatment.
Koles SL, Salat P, Veljkovic A, Marín-Peña Ó, Kassarjian A. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2017 Nov;21(5):547-560. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1606140. Epub 2017 Oct 12. PMID: 29025185
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The Warwick Agreement on femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAI syndrome): an international consensus statement.
Griffin DR, Dickenson EJ, O'Donnell J, Agricola R, Awan T, Beck M, Clohisy JC, Dijkstra HP, Falvey E, Gimpel M, Hinman RS, Hölmich P, Kassarjian A, Martin HD, Martin R, Mather RC, Philippon MJ, Reiman MP, Takla A, Thorborg K, Walker S, Weir A, Bennell KL. Br J Sports Med. 2016 Oct;50(19):1169-76. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096743.
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Guidelines for MR Imaging of the foot and ankle.
Ara Kassarjian, Benjamin Fritz, et. al. In: MRI of the Foot and Ankle. Eds. Josef Kramer, Apostolos Karantana. 2016. Breitenseher Publisher.
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Guidelines for MR Imaging of the Hip.
Ara Kassarjian, Benjamin Fritz, et. al. In: MRI of the Hip. Eds. Josef Kramer, Apostolos Karantana. 2016. Breitenseher Publisher.
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Imaging of Ballet Dancers Injuries.
Ara Kassarjian. In: Imaging of Sports-Specific Musculoskeletal Injuries. Eds. Ali Guermazi, Frank W. Roemer, Michel D. Crema. 2016. Springer.
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Calf injuries in professional football: Treat the patient or the scan? - A case study.
Barreira P, Kassarjian A, Araújo JP, Ferreira R, Espregueira Mendes J. Phys Ther Sport. 2016 Jan 31;21:63-67. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2016.01.004. PMID: 27428536
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Intramuscular degloving injuries to the rectus femoris: findings at MRI.
Kassarjian A, Rodrigo RM, Santisteban JM.
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2014 May;202(5):W475-80. doi: 10.2214/AJR.13.10931. Epub 2014 Jan 22. PMID:24450607
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Current concepts in MRI of rectus femoris musculotendinous (myotendinous) and myofascial injuries in elite athletes.
Kassarjian A, Rodrigo RM, Santisteban JM. Eur J Radiol. 2012 Dec;81(12):3763-71. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2011.04.002. Epub 2011 Apr 22. PMID: 21514758
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Current concepts in MR and CT arthrography.
Kassarjian A.
Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2012 Feb;16(1):1-2. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1304296. Epub 2012 Mar 23. PMID: 22447232
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MRI of the quadratus femoris muscle: anatomic considerations and pathologic lesions.
Kassarjian A, Tomas X, Cerezal L, Canga A, Llopis E. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011 Jul;197(1):170-4. doi: 10.2214/AJR.10.5898. Review. PMID: 21701027
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Bone marrow changes in stress injuries.
Navas A, Kassarjian A. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2011 Jul;15(3):183-97. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1278419. Epub 2011 Jun 3. Review. PMID: 21644193
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Anatomy, biomechanics, imaging, and management of ligamentum teres injuries.
Cerezal L, Kassarjian A, Canga A, Dobado MC, Montero JA, Llopis E, Rolón A, Pérez-Carro L.
Radiographics. 2010 Oct;30(6):1637-51. doi: 10.1148/rg.306105516. Review. PMID: 21071380
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Tumor burden in patients with neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2 and schwannomatosis: determination on whole-body MR images.
Cai W, Kassarjian A, Bredella MA, Harris GJ, Yoshida H, Mautner VF, Wenzel R, Plotkin SR. Radiology. 2009 Mar;250(3):665-73. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2503080700. PMID: 19244040