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

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.