Soleus Accessorius: An Uncommon Anatomic Variant of the Calf Muscle

Anatomical variants like the soleus accessorius underscores the incredible diversity within the human body. It serves as a reminder that healthcare professionals should remain vigilant, especially in cases where unexpected structures or variations are encountered during diagnosis or treatment.

Sagittal T2w and T1w – MRI 0.3 Tesla

The soleus accessorius, also known as accessory soleus, is a relatively rare anatomical variant of the calf muscle, the soleus. The soleus muscle is one of the two major muscles in the calf, with the other being the gastrocnemius. The soleus accessorius, when present, is typically an additional muscle belly or slip located adjacent to the primary soleus muscle.

The presence of a soleus accessorius can have clinical significance in several ways:

1. Misdiagnosis: An accessory soleus can be mistaken for a soft tissue mass or other pathology in medical imaging studies, potentially leading to misdiagnosis and unnecessary medical interventions.

2. Functional Impact: In some cases, the soleus accessorius can be associated with altered biomechanics and may contribute to conditions like posterior compartment syndrome, leading to pain and discomfort in the lower leg.

3. Surgical Considerations: Surgeons and orthopedic specialists need to be aware of a soleus accessorius when performing procedures on the calf muscles to avoid accidental damage or complications.

Partial Strain of Adductor Brevis: Thermography, Ultrasound​, ​and MRI study.

about a combined diagnostic approach of muscle injuries using thermography, ultrasound, and MRI exams.

Pain and discomfort in the adductor region of the left thigh immediately after a football match in a professional player. Using thermography, asymmetric distribution of the skin temperature is evident in that site.

I always suggest to execute both MRI and ultrasound examinations; in this case, you can see how it is useful to have a portable device, it allows you to make a preliminary diagnosis before the MRI study and indeed, to observe the follow up of muscle injury directly at the sports center where the team train every day.

The dynamic ultrasound examination shows diffuse muscular edema with a partial tear of the left adductor brevis.adductorBrevisThe perfect combination of all of these imaging procedures is crucial to better plan the recovery period.

8 days after recovery and physiotherapy period that is the situation on MRI exam. Untitled.001The thermography exam shows a better situation but still remains an asymmetric distribution of the skin temperature.final.001