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Painful heel: MR imaging findings
J A Narváez1, J Narváez, R Ortega
1Department of CT and MRI-Institut de Diagnòstic per la Imatge, Hospital Duran Reymals, Ciutat Sanitària y Universitària de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain. cvalls@csub.scs.es
Summary
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging aids in diagnosing various causes of heel pain by visualizing soft-tissue and bone abnormalities. It helps determine the extent of disease and guides surgical planning when conservative treatments fail.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Orthopedics
- Musculoskeletal Imaging
Background:
- Heel pain is a prevalent and debilitating condition with diverse causes.
- Understanding the anatomic origin and location of pain is crucial for diagnosis.
- Common causes include plantar fascial, tendinous, osseous, bursal lesions, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and fat pad abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To classify heel pain disorders based on anatomical origin and location.
- To highlight the role of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in diagnosing heel pain.
- To assess MR imaging's utility in treatment planning.
Main Methods:
- Classification of heel pain disorders by anatomical location.
- Utilizing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for its soft-tissue contrast and multiplanar capabilities.
- Correlating MR imaging findings with patient history and physical examination.
Main Results:
- MR imaging effectively identifies osseous and soft-tissue causes of heel pain.
- It aids in assessing disease extent and severity in complex cases.
- MR imaging findings, combined with clinical data, lead to specific diagnoses in most instances.
Conclusions:
- MR imaging is a valuable tool for diagnosing the cause of heel pain.
- It assists in conservative management and is crucial for surgical planning in specific cases.
- Accurate diagnosis through MR imaging improves patient outcomes.