title: A clinical and radiological study of peroneal tendon pathology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The proportion of patients with clinical findings referable to peroneal pathology and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-diagnosed peroneal tendon pathology is unknown. Previous studies have correlated surgical findings with clinical data and preoperative MRI, but there are no published studies that reference clinical examination findings to imaging findings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between peroneal tendon pathology as diagnosed by MRI and clinical findings of peroneal tendon pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six patients who had both MRI evidence of peroneal tendon pathology and an associated clinical examination of the ankle were evaluated over a 3-year period at a tertiary care institution. Clinical examination criteria included lateral ankle tenderness, dislocation/snapping, and lateral ankle pain. A board-certified, fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologist confirmed the presence of MRI findings consistent with peroneal tendon pathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 56 patients with positive findings on MRI, 27 patients had an associated positive clinical exam and 29 patients had a negative clinical exam. The positive predictive value of MRI for peroneal tendon tears with positive clinical findings was 48% (95% confidence interval = 35% to 61%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with MRI findings of peroneal tendon pathology should undergo careful clinical examination, as the positive predictive value of MRI for peroneal tendon pathology with actual clinical findings is low. This study demonstrates that peroneal tendon tears are often incidental findings on MRI.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics (EG, SEW), University of California Davis, Sacramento, California.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Giza
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Mak
authors: Stephanie E
authors: SE
authors: Wong
authors: Glade
authors: G
authors: Roper
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Campanelli
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: Hunter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: MRI; clinical examination; peroneal tendon tears