Key imaging perspectives on Achilles tendon tears—A radiological roadmap: Pictorial essay

Abstract

Achilles tendon tears (ATT) are commonly encountered in clinical practice although it is the strongest tendon in the body. ATT are reported to occur in 0.04% of the population annually. ATT may result from high impact sports trauma such as sudden dorsiflexion while weight bearing or repeated microtrauma to a compromised tendon. Multiple factors can decrease the tensile strength of the tendon predisposing it to rupture. The treatment approach for ATT is multifaceted, dependent on factors such as the degree of tear, distance between the retracted portions, tear location, and also on patient factors such as occupation and underlying predisposing factors. In this pictorial essay, we present the imaging features of normal Achilles tendon and in ATT across different modalities and outline essential reporting criteria for ATT.