Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2009; 117(10): 645-648
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1224121
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© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Achilles tendon volume in type 2 Diabetic Patients with or without Peripheral Neuropathy: MRI Study

N. Papanas1 , N. Courcoutsakis2 , K. Papatheodorou1 , G. Daskalogiannakis2 , E. Maltezos1 , P. Prassopoulos2
  • 1Outpatient Clinic of the Diabetic Foot at the Second Department of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
  • 2Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
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Publikationsverlauf

received 04.03.2009 first decision 27.04.2009

accepted 06.05.2009

Publikationsdatum:
15. Oktober 2009 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate Achilles tendon (AT) in type 2 diabetic patients with vs. without peripheral neuropathy using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The study included 19 patients (group A, mean age 63.9±7.4 years) with peripheral neuropathy and 19 patients (group B, mean age 63.6±6.1 years) without peripheral neuropathy, as well as 16 healthy controls (group C, mean age 61.6±8.4 years). Neuropathy was diagnosed by the Diabetic Neuropathy Index (DNI). The maximum AT thickness and AT volume were measured on sagittal T1 weighted MRI images. AT volume was calculated by the sum of the tendon surface area of all contiguous sections multiplied by the slice thickness. Diabetic patients had significantly (p<0.001) greater AT volume than controls (9742.0±2034.9 mm3 vs. 7323.8±1918.2 mm3). This difference was observed both in men (p=0.030) and in women (p<0.001). AT volume was significantly greater in group A vs. C (p=0.003) and in group B vs. C (p<0.001), but there was no difference between groups A and B (p=0.469). Finally, in group A increased AT volume was significantly (p=0.041) associated with clinical severity of neuropathy.

Conclusions Type 2 diabetic patients have increased AT volume as compared to controls. There is no difference in AT volume between patients with and without neuropathy. However, in neuropathic patients increased AT volume is associated with severity of neuropathy.