MR imaging of the Achilles tendon

In order to assess the value of MR imaging in evaluating pathologic conditions of the Achillies tendon, the authors retrospectively reviewed 31 Achilles tendons in 19 patients. Of these, there were nine abnormal Achilles tendons scanned in seven patients, including instances of tendon rupture (four), postoperative changes (three), inflammatory changes, (one), and postinflammatory changes (one). All tendon ruptures were surgically proved. Follow-up studies were obtained in one trauma and one inflammatory case. All patients were scanned using a spin-echo pulse sequence with a TE/17-30 msec/TR 500-1,000 msec and TE/90 msec/TR 2,000 msec with a 4-mm section thickness. There was excellent correlation of the MR imaging with the available surgical pathologic findings. MR was an accurate means of demonstrating Achilles tendon pathology, especially when the clinical diagnosis was in question