title: Oedema and fatty degeneration of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles on MR images in patients with Achilles tendon abnormalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of oedema and fatty degeneration of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles in patients with Achilles tendon abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five consecutive patients (mean 51 years; range 14-84 years) with achillodynia were examined with magnetic resonance (MR) images of the calf. The frequency of oedema and fatty degeneration in the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles was determined in patients with normal tendons, tendinopathy and in patients with a partial tear or a complete tear of the Achilles tendon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oedema was encountered in 35% (7/20) of the patients with tendinopathy (n = 20; range 13-81 years), and in 47% (9/19) of the patients with partial tears or complete tears (n = 19; 28-78 years). Fatty degeneration was encountered in 10% (2/20) of the patients with tendinopathy, and in 32% (6/19) of the patients with tears. The prevalence of fatty degeneration was significantly more common in patients with a partial or complete tear compared with the patients with a normal Achilles tendon (p = 0.032 and p = 0.021, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oedema and fatty degeneration of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles are common in patients with Achilles tendon abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, University Hospital Balgrist Zürich, Forchstrasse 340, CH-8008 Zürich, Switzerland. adrienne.hoffmann@gmail.com
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mamisch
authors.forename: Florian M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Christian W A
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Pfirrmann
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanetti
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000473:pathology*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult