Ultrasound elastography of the supraspinatus tendon guided by US-MRI virtual navigation

Abstract

Abstract. BACKGROUND: A virtual navigation system (VNS) can combine two imaging modalities for synchronous observation and can be beneficial for diagnosis and treatment. Ultrasound elastography (UE) can distinguish between soft and hard tissues. However, the application of UE to musculoskeletal structures is rare. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate UE of the supraspinatus tendon using ultrasound-magnetic resonance imaging (US-MRI) virtual navigation. METHODS: Sixty patients with an ache in the shoulder were diagnosed with supraspinatus tendon injuries using MRI. US-MRI virtual navigation was used to identify lesions in the supraspinatus tendon, and finally US elastography (UE) was performed. Volunteers whose supraspinatus tendons were diagnosed as normal by MRI were also selected for US elastography. The UE scores were then compared between patients and volunteers. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were diagnosed with supraspinatus tendon injuries using MRI and forty-two patients classified as Grade I exhibited no obvious abnormality by US. The supraspinatus tendon injury scores were significantly higher in Grade I patients compared with volunteers (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: US elastography is helpful for the diagnosis of the supraspinatus tendon injuries when used with US-MRI virtual navigation.

Ultrasound elastography and ultrasound tissue characterisation for tendon evaluation

“…It is generally agreed that injured Achilles and rotator cuff (RTC) tendons are softer than healthy, asymptomatic tendon tissue ( Table 1 , Table 3 ) [4] , [18] , [21] , [22] , [24] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] . Of the four studies that had compared tendinopathic Achilles tendons with normal tendon using SE, pathological tendons were found to be softer than healthy tendon tissue in three studies ( n = 545 tendon thirds), whereas one study by Sconfienza et al ( n = 48) showed opposite results [4] , [29] , [31] , [40] .…”

Sonoelastography in the musculoskeletal system: Current role and future directions

“…Away from the Achilles tendon, ultrasound elastography has been used to assess supraspinatus muscle and tendon (Figure 3), with tendinosis predominantly being shown as tendon softening, but also regions of increased stiffness, purported to represent reparative fibrosis (Figures 4 and 5)[37-39]. Strain elastography has also been used around the elbow to assess the common extensor tendon.…”