Abnormal Achilles tendon US findings in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes

Introduction. Achilles tendon abnormalities on ultrasound (US) have been associated with type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to identify the Achilles tendon US findings inMexican patients with type 2 diabetes.Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional study of adult patients with type 2 diabetes.The variables recorded were age, sex, time since diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, body mass index (BMI), glycosylated hemoglobin, and treatment.Both Achilles tendons were examined with US and the abnormal findings were fibrillar disorganization, intrasubstance calcifications, hypoechoic foci, and increased Achilles tendon thickness.Results: Seventy Achilles tendons were examined in 35 type 2 diabetes patients.The mean age was 55.7 12.02 years.Twenty-nine (82.8%) were women, and 6 (17.2%) were men.US abnormalities were found in 60 Achilles tendons in 33 (94.3%) of 35 patients.Intrasubstance calcifications were the most common finding in both tendons (n = 29, 50.8% right and n = 24, 47.1% left), followed by fibrillar disorganization (n = 14, 24.6% right and n = 17, 33.3% left).Thickening was found in only two (3.5%) right tendons.Overweight or obese patients had more abnormal US findings in the Achilles tendon.Conclusion: Abnormal US findings of the Achilles tendon were prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes.The most common were intrasubstance calcifications, followed by fibrillar disorganization.