Ultrasound with Elastography versus MRI in Diagnosis of Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Abstract

Abstract Background tendinopathies and tendon injuries that are due to overload, are important and extremely widespread problem in musculoskeletal diseases. Real-time Sonoelastography (SE) is used to evaluate the tissue elasticity. Aim This study assessed the role of sonoelastography in evaluation of tendon stiffness in comparison to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis of patients with rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy. Methods cross sectional study with 36 adult patients that were clinically suspected to have supraspinatus tendinopathy with no past history of trauma and performed MRI of the shoulder were selected for our study. SE images were taken and assessed for focal soft areas. The supraspinatus (SSP) tendinopathy was graded (Grade 0, normal; Grade I, mild tendinopathy; Grade II, moderate tendinopathy; and Grade III, marked tendinopathy). Results the examined population, by MRI examination of supraspinatus tendon findings categorized as 7 patients (19.4%) had grade 0, and 17 patients (47%) had grade 1, 11 (30.6%) had grade 2, and 1 (2.8%) had grade 3. On the other hand, by Sonoelastography, there was 8 patients (22.2%) had grade 0, and 18 patients (50%) had grade 1, 9 (25%) had grade 2, and 1 (2.8%) had grade 3. Perfect positive correlation (r = 0.83) was found between the MRI and Sonoelastography grading. The association between the two modalities was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Conclusions SE showed good correlation with MRI in identifying supraspinatus tendon intratendinous alterations.