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This paper aims to evaluate the recent and numerous applications of ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of conditions that affect the popliteal fossa and lower limbs, resulting in calf pain. Popliteal cysts and their ruptures, aneurysms, hematomas, cellulitis, abscesses, soft tissue tumors and other fluid collections are easily identified by this technique. Moreover, post-trauma and inflammatory conditions affecting muscles and tendons, muscle necrosis, deep venous thrombosis and superficial thrombophlebitis are very well demonstrated by the ultrasonographic screening.

Objective: To evaluate tendon thickness at ultrasonography (US)imaging in long-term dialysis recipients. Methods: Twenty chronicdialysis recipients underwent US examination to evaluate tendonthickening, including that of the supraspinatus, subscapularis, biceps,triceps, quadriceps, patellar and calcaneal tendons with no partial orcomplete lesions. These patients were compared with 22asymptomatic patients and the rejection of null hypothesis was 5%(Student’s t test, p < 0.05). Results: Statistically significant thickeningwas found in the supraspinatus, subscapularis, triceps and right bicepstendons. The statistical analysis of the other tendons was notsignificant. Conclusion: Amyloid protein deposition in tendons wasnot uniform; the current study shows a predominance of thisoccurrence in tendons in the upper limbs.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the value of ultrasonography in elbow ligament assessment compared to magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: A prospective single-center study involving 30 volunteers with no elbow joint changes. Two experienced ultrasound specialists evaluated both elbows of each volunteer, resulting in 60 evaluations per physician and totaling up 120 evaluations. Magnetic resonance images were obtained using a 3-Tesla machine and evaluated by two experienced radiologists, totaling up 120 exams. Each examiner assigned subjective, zero-to-5 scores to ligaments imaged, where zero corresponded to non-identified ligament and 5 to visualization of the entire ligament. The level of significance was set at 5%. Bland-Altman dispersions and plots were prepared for each pair of measurements obtained. Results: All ligaments were amenable to sonographic identification; scores of 4 or 5 were assigned by examiners based on ligament visibility. Ligaments could also be identified using magnetic resonance imaging and were assigned scores of 5 by examiners. All ligaments were described as intact and healthy by all four examiners. Comparative analysis of elbow ligament sonographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings did not differ significantly. Conclusion: Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging can be considered equivalent modalities for elbow ligament assessment in the hands of experienced examiners.