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Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Skeletal Muscle Disease
Published on: December 18, 2016
Tendon Volume Determination on Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Supraspinatus Tendinopathy
Benjamin F Spall1, Boel A Fransson1, Steve A Martinez1
1Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
Objective:
To determine the supraspinatus tendon volume using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in dogs with non-calcified supraspinatus tendinopathy (NCST), in dogs with orthopedic disease other than NCST, and in healthy dogs.
Study Design:
Case series.
Animals:
Twenty-two dogs (18 client-owned dogs; 4 purpose-bred dogs).
Methods:
Dogs undergoing shoulder MRI were categorized as NCST if they were diagnosed with NCST only, had histologic confirmed diagnosis, underwent surgical treatment, and were available for follow-up longer than 4 months. Dogs with MRI performed for a forelimb lameness because of a diagnosis other than NCST were categorized as orthopedic control (OC). Healthy dogs from an unrelated study were categorized as healthy controls (HC). Tendon volume was determined from MRI using public domain software and compared across categories.
Results:
The study included 9 NCST dogs, 9 OC dogs, and 4 HC dogs. The median tendon volume for NCST was 1,323 mm(3), OC was 630 mm(3), and HC was 512 mm(3). The volume was significantly higher in the NCST than OC (P = .0012) and HC (P = .003). There was no difference between OC and HC (P = .76).
Conclusion:
Dogs diagnosed with NCST had higher supraspinatus tendon volumes compared to dogs with other orthopedic disorders and healthy dogs.
