D. Mantel et al., ACHILLES-TENDON STRUCTURE - MR-IMAGING WI TH MICRO-ANATOMIC AND HISTOLOGIC CORRELATIONS, Journal de radiologie, 77(4), 1996, pp. 261-265
On T1 and T2 weighted MR Imaging, normal Achilles tendon is generally
described as a homogeneous low signal structure. However, punctuate an
d/or short linear high signal foci are often seen, especially on the a
nterior part of axial sections. These images are not artifacts. The ai
m of this study was to correlate MR images of 20 normal Achilles tendo
ns with micro-anatomic and histologic studies of 2 cadaver tendons. In
tratendinous vessels were found in connective tissue septa called meso
tenon. Foci of high signals result from this mesotenon. On T1 weighted
images, a normal Achilles tendon can present high signal images witho
ut any disease process.