Sonographic evaluation and ultrasound-guided therapy of the Achilles tendon

The Achilles tendon is a frequent site of foot and ankle discomfort. Its superficial location lends it to excellent evaluation by ultrasonography. Continuing advances in US have enabled evaluation of Achilles pathology with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency in a cost-effective manner. For these reasons, radiologists are likely to be called on to evaluate Achilles tendinopathy with sonography. The purpose of this article was to provide an overview of the sonographic technique and appearance of the normal and abnormal Achilles tendon, including a short synopsis of ultrasound-guided therapy with pictoral examples.