Will an x-ray show if there is an inflammed tendon in my foot?
Possibly, but probably not. Some tendons are easily visible on x-ray images, or radiographs. The Achilles tendon is quite large and pretty well isolated. It is clearly visible on lateral foot radiographs. Tendons show up lighter than bone and tissue because they have a different molecular density and absorb fewer x-rays. However, many tendons are quite thin and very close to or obscured by bones on radiographs. Also, inflammatory responses could include swelling, which changes the water content of tissues and alters their appearance on a radiograph.
