title: Enthesopathy of the lateral cord of the plantar fascia.
abstract: The objective of this study was to raise awareness of the diagnosis of enthesopathy of the lateral cord of the plantar fascia (LCPF) and describe its sonographic findings. We conducted a retrospective case series of 13 sonographic examinations with the diagnosis of LCPF enthesopathy. Two cadaver dissections of the plantar foot were performed for anatomic correlation. Sonographic findings of LCPF enthesopathy included generalized or focal hypoechoic thickening, loss of the normal fibrillar echo texture, cortical irregularity of the fifth metatarsal tuberosity, and vascularity on color Doppler imaging. Anatomic dissections of the plantar foot detailed the course of the LCPF and served as a guide for optimal sonographic imaging. Enthesopathy of the LCPF is an important etiology of nontraumatic pain at the base of the fifth metatarsal. Sonographic evaluation can readily show the characteristic findings of LCPF enthesopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Radiology, Essentia Health, Duluth, Minnesota USA (D.F.H.); Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA (L.N.N.); and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, Rochester, Minnesota USA (J.S.). douglas.hoffman@essentiahealth.org.
authors.forename: Douglas F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Radiology, Essentia Health, Duluth, Minnesota USA (D.F.H.); Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA (L.N.N.); and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, Rochester, Minnesota USA (J.S.).
authors.forename: Levon N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Nazarian
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Radiology, Essentia Health, Duluth, Minnesota USA (D.F.H.); Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA (L.N.N.); and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, Rochester, Minnesota USA (J.S.).
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005205:Fascia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: enthesopathy; lateral cord of the plantar fascia; musculoskeletal ultrasound