Sonoelastographic Assessment of the Achilles Tendon in Familial Mediterranean Fever Patients: Comparison With Healthy Subjects

Seyfi Evran; Mehtap Beker-Acay; Sinan Saracli; Akif Acay; Emre Kacar; Furkan Kaya

doi:10.7759/cureus.12143

Sonoelastographic Assessment of the Achilles Tendon in Familial Mediterranean Fever Patients: Comparison With Healthy Subjects

Cureus. 2020 Dec 18;12(12):e12143. doi: 10.7759/cureus.12143.

Authors

Seyfi Evran¹, Mehtap Beker-Acay², Sinan Saracli³, Akif Acay⁴, Emre Kacar⁵, Furkan Kaya²

Affiliations

¹ Radiology, Afyonkarahisar State Hospital, Afyonkarahisar, TUR.
² Radiology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyonkarahisar, TUR.
³ Statistics, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, TUR.
⁴ Internal Medicine, Kutahya Park Hayat Hospital, Kutahya, TUR.
⁵ Radiology, Doruk Setbasi Medical Center, Bursa, TUR.

Abstract

Introduction and objective: This study aims at using sonoelastography as a novel technique to evaluate the stiffness and thickness of Achilles tendons in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients.

Methods: Achilles tendons of 26 FMF patients and 23 control subjects were assessed with ultrasound and real-time sonoelastography. The Achilles tendons were divided into the distal, middle, and proximal thirds for elastographic image evaluation. Tendons were classified into three main types according to their elasticity features: grade 1 blue (hardest tissue) to green (hard tissue); grade 2, yellow (soft tissue); and grade 3, red (softest tissue). Tendons of the groups were compared in terms of thickness and stiffness.

Results: There were no significant differences in thickness and stiffness of the Achilles tendon between FMF patients and controls (p>0.05). Sonoelastography of Achilles tendons of FMF patients displayed no relationship between FMF and tendinopathy. Conclusion: This issue should be explored in prospective studies in larger groups.

Keywords: familial; mediterranean fever; sonoelastography; tendinosis.