Real-time sonoelastography in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tendinopathy

Non-traumatic chronic shoulder pain is not associated with changes in rotator cuff interval tendon thickness

“…ultrasound quantification (Pozzi et al, 2017), elastography (Lee et al, 2016)) however more studies are needed to correlate such changes with those occurring in pain-function and in cell populations, which have been shown to be altered in tendinopathy conditions leading to chronic degeneration and pain (Dakin et al, 2015;Thomopoulos et al, 2015).Previous work has shown that the elastic properties of the patellar tendon, measured by supersonic shear imaging, are different between painful and non-painful sides in athletes with unilateral patellar tendinopathy (Zhang et al, 2014). It may be that tendon structural differences are more apparent in younger populations, while no differences occur in older populations or people with chronic pain, however more studies are necessary to explore these hypotheses.…”

Quantitative Elastosonography of the Myotendinous Junction: Normal Behavior and Correlation With a Standard Measurement System During Functional Tests

“…Those differences, as in other sites, may be either an increase or a decrease in elasticity (eg, a decrease in elasticity can be linked to an increase in the fibrotic component related to a prior trauma). Although tendon and muscle elasticity has been thoroughly studied, both under physiologic and pathologic conditions, only a few articles focused on the myotendinous junction …”

Evaluation of tendinosis of the long head of the biceps tendon by strain and shear wave elastography

“…These structural changes are related to tissue damage and include both degenerative areas as well as reactive areas where progressive healing or fibrosis appears [19,20]. These degenerative areas on the tendon are seen as an increase in the tendon signal in MRI associated with loss of normal fibrillary pattern [6]. Degenerative changes are seen as hypo-or hyperechoic dishomogeneous thickening, diffuse or focal, of the tendon in B-mode US [23,24].…”

“…MRI and US have been applied due to many advantages, including usability, cost effectiveness, and patient preference. However, tendinitis and tendinosis lesions are difficult, and in some cases impossible, to diagnose with conventional US since it usually shows the same echogenicity as the surrounding healthy tissue in the case of tendinopathy [6,7]. In addition, US is dependent on the practitioner.…”

“…In addition, US is dependent on the practitioner. MRI is a noninvasive gold standard diagnostic modality that provides information on LHBT, rotator cuff tendons, soft tissues, and bone structures [6,8].…”