[Ultrasound in diagnosis of foot lateral aspect pathologies]

The aim of the research was to outline the normal sonoanatomy and possibilities of ultrasound in complex radiological diagnosis of foot pathologies. 200 patients (age ranges from 10 to 70 years) underwent the radiological study of foot lateral aspect structures. PATHOLOGY TYPES: inflammatory pathology--40 (20%) patients, traumatic injuries--76 (38%), degenerative-dystrophic diseases--28 (14%); soft-tissue masses--16 (8%). Unilateral pathology was diagnosed in 80%, bilateral--in 20% of cases. The diagnostic studies include: a)Ultrasound, performed on digital ultrasound system using high frequency (7.5-12.0 MHz) linear probe with Doppler capability (all patients); b) X-Ray filming in lateral projections--28 (14%) patients; c) MRI--T1 and T2 weighted images in saggital and transverse planes--22 (11%) patients and d) CT--in 4 (2%) cases. Ultrasound was successful in foot lateral aspect pathology final diagnosis in 146 cases (73%); It was ineffective in osseous pathology definition. Ultrasound failed defining vertebral pathology (diagnosis for verified by X-Ray and MR studies) in 16% of cases; CT was used to diagnose peroneal tendons problems on calcaneal fracture in 2% and MR helped to diagnose anterio-lateral impingement in 1% of cases. Radiological complex was needed to reach the final diagnosis in 8% of cases. Ultrasound should be used as a Gold Standard for diagnosis of foot lateral aspect pathologies due to its high detail resolution, possibility of real time imaging and Doppler study. The decision of other radiological modalities application should be made on the basis of Ultrasound study data.