Table 1.

Radiographic, sonographic and MRI features of PF disorders

	Plain radiography	Ultrasound	Magnetic resonance imaging
Plantar fasciitis	PF thickening Narrowed/absent fat pad deep below the PF Cortical changes (sclerosis/lucency and loss of smooth contour) at the PF calcaneal attachment Calcaneal spurs within the PF	PF thickening Loss of fibrillar structure Perifascial fluid collections Calcifications within the PF Hyperemia in the PF/perifascial soft tissues (Doppler imaging) Reduced PF elasticity (elastosonography)	PF thickening Intrasubstance areas of intermediate T1/high T2 signal Oedema in the adjacent soft tissues Bone marrow oedema at the PF calcaneal attachment
Plantar fibromatosis		Iso-hypoechoic, well-demarcated mass No intralesional flow (Doppler imaging)	Lobulated low-signal mass on T1w and T2w images
Tear		Complete/partial interruption of the PF Hypoechoic tissue at the site of rupture	Complete/partial interruption of the PF Intermediate T1/high T2 signal at the site of rupture Oedema in the adjacent soft tissues
Xanthoma		Nodule with speckled pattern	Fusiform enlargement of the PF Heterogeneous T1 and T2 signal
Foreign body	Radiopaque material (e.g., metals)	Echoic material Posterior acoustic shadowing Comet tail reverberation (metals)	Variable signal of the foreign body High T2 signal of the granulation tissue
Plantar infection	Soft tissue swelling Blurring of soft tissue planes Bone osteomyelitic changes	PF thickening Loss of fibrillar structure Perifascial oedema Hyperemia in the PF (Doppler imaging)	Low T1/high T2 signal and contrast enhancement in the PF, perifascial soft tissues and adjacent bone