Achilles Tendinopathy And Patellar Tendon: Integrated Imaging

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate Achilles tendinopathy. The tendinopathy usually appears as an area poorly marked and inside itself a focal loss or spread, of the tendinous structure, can be visible. The pain occurs in the insertion area of the tendon and it recognizes bio-mechanic, pharmacological and systemic causes.EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: It was performed a research in the international literature using Pubmed and adopting key words. The articles were reviewed by two independent reviewers and the relevant ones were discussed by the research team.EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The ultrasound scanning revealed, at the beginning, an edema of the peritendon, followed by an area with an increased thickness, with the loss of the tendon's fibril structure and its echogenicity, due to the chronical impact of the tendon with the insertion surface. The color-doppler should be always used in these cases, since it recognizes the flow increasing, expression of the acute inflammation. Usually, the tendons in MR have a low signal in the several phases of the study. In tendinopathies the MR showed a thickening spread of the tendon himself; with the alteration of the signal which appears with the alterations of the signal, which appears lightly understood. It was sometimes associated to the peritendon fluid. The radiographic examination did not lose its value since it allowed to recognize the calcifications and the enterocytes, the bone increasing or the bone cists formation.CONCLUSIONS: The tendinopathies are common diseases causing pain and functional limitations in the sports activity and in the daily life. The tendinopathies are recurrent diseases and have a high risk of spontaneous breaking. The integrated imaging seems suitable in order to recognize the tendinopathy, its level and evaluate the evolution till the probable breaking.