Normal PTT, stage II PTT and FDLT samples
| Women | Men | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal PTT | Stage II PTT | FDLT | Normal PTT | Stage II PTT | FDLT | |
| Number of samples | 6 | 25* | 25* | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Age (years), median (range) | 53.5 (29–87) | 60 (30–77) | 60 (30–77) | 54 (35–63) | 55 (19–72) | 56.5 (54–72) |
| Histology | ||||||
| Normal | 5† | 1 | 19† | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Abnormal | 0 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Abnormal features | ||||||
| Fibre disorganisation | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Increased cellularity | 0 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Cell rounding | 0 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Increased GAG | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Blood vessel infiltration | 0 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Tendon samples were collected from patients as described in the text. Dissected pieces were fixed and examined histologically using standard techniques (see online supplementary text).
↵* The 25 samples of stage II PTT and FDLT are paired samples from the same individual female patients.
↵† Indicates that one each of these sample sets was not available for histology. Five abnormal features were scored: collagen fibre disorganisation, increased cellularity, cell rounding, increased GAG content and blood vessel infiltration (indicating neovascularisation or angiogenesis). The number of samples presenting normal and abnormal appearance is shown, together with the numbers of samples showing each specific abnormality.
FDLT, flexor digitorum longus tendon; GAG, glycosaminoglycan; PTT, posterior tibialis tendon.