IMAGING EVALUATION OF ANKLE TENDON INJURIES IN ATHLETES: DIAGNOSTIC ADVANCES AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Introduction: Imaging evaluation of ankle tendon injuries in athletes has undergone significant advancements due to evolving cross-sectional modalities and image-guided techniques, enabling improved diagnostic accuracy and clinical management. Objective: The aim of this narrative review is to synthesize the latest diagnostic imaging advances for ankle tendon injuries in athletes and discuss their clinical implications, guiding radiologists and sports medicine clinicians toward evidence-informed decision-making. Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted, querying databases—PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar—for peer-reviewed studies published in the last five years, focusing on imaging modalities, their technical refinements, and application in sports-related ankle tendon injuries. Results and Discussion: Emerging techniques such as high-resolution MRI variants (e.g., T2 mapping, ultra -short echo time MRI), advanced ultrasound (including sonoelastography), and weight-bearing CT modalities are showing promise in characterizing tendon pathology with greater sensitivity and functional assessment. Image-guided interventions may complement imaging findings by guiding therapeutic decisions, although high-level evidence remains limited. Conclusion: Innovations in imaging modalities are enhancing the evaluation of ankle tendon injuries in athletic populations; however, integration into clinical workflows requires further validation through longitudinal and outcome-oriented studies.