Reliability of Real-Time Sonoelastography in the Diagnosis of Supraspinatus Tendinopathy

Abstract

The practicality of real-time sonoelastography in the diagnosis of tendinopathy is being discussed since the beginning of its use in musculoskeletal system. The aims of this study were to compare the elasticity of pathologic supraspinatus tendon with the uninvolved side by sonoelastography and to determine the relationship between the sonoelastographic findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) grade of the tendinosis. Eighty-2 patients (50 males, 32 females, mean ± SD age = 53.61 ± 16.15 years, range = 20–84 years) with unilateral supraspinatus tendinosis were included in this study. Three grades of tendinosis were identified in MRI (grade 1: mild, grade 2: moderate, and grade 3: severe). The strain ratio (SR) of the tendinosis area to the healthy normal area of the same tendon tissue and SR of the tendinosis area to ipsilateral subcutaneous fat tissue were evaluated with sonoelastography. The SRs of the tendinosis areas were also compared with the control (contralateral) side tendon tissue and subcutaneous fat tissue of the same patients. Between-groups comparisons were also done according to the MRI grading. Statistical analysis was done using paired t test (P < 0.005 was considered statistically significant). There was a statistically significant difference in the comparison of the SRs of the tendinosis areas to subcutaneous fat tissues on ipsilateral shoulders (TA/SFT) and the healthy supraspinatus tendon area (TA/ST) of the same shoulder. There was also statistically significant difference when compared with the control side measurements (P < 0.01). In patients who have grade 1 and grade 3 tendinosis on MRI, there was statistically significant difference between elastrographic evaluation of affected and unaffected sides. Real-time sonoelastography is a reliable diagnostic method in patients with rotator cuff tendinosis and shall be kept in mind as a noninvasive, inexpensive, and practical diagnostic test in suitable cases.

Exercise for rotator cuff tendinopathy: Proposed mechanisms of recovery

“…Tendon material properties have been assessed in cross-sectional studies in those with RC tendinopathy (see Supplemental Table 1) using sonoelastography. 57,59–65 These studies indicate a relationship between decreased tendon elasticity and greater tendon degeneration, which is consistent with findings in lower extremity tendinopathy. The effects of a long-term exercise intervention on RC tendon material and mechanical properties have been examined in only a single study that looked at the infraspinatus.…”

Effectiveness of Two-Dimensional Shear-Wave Sonoelastography in the Diagnosis and Follow-up of Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis

“…The muscles and skeletal system are also suitable structures for USE and SE evaluation because of their super cial location and elasticity, and many studies have therefore been conducted on musculoskeletal system diseases in adults [20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. In children, SE is considered bene cial in diagnosing and evaluating treatment responses to congenital muscular torticollis [27,28].…”

Role of ultrasound elastography in the evaluation of rotator cuff tendon in patients with shoulder pain and its comparison with magnetic resonance imaging

“…5 While comparing tissue stiffness to nearby structures using a particular application based on acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI), SWE does not require the operator to compress the tissue and provide an indirect estimate of the tissue stiffness based on the velocity of the shear waves. 6 However, it is not yet frequently employed in clinical musculoskeletal practice. Therefore, measuring tissue elasticity may potentially be a valuable method for identifying intratendinous lesions in individuals who have rotator cuff tendinopathy.…”