Naglaa Abdel Razek MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Loai Ezzat MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To assess the supraspinatus tendon , in healthy volunteers and to compare the findings with patients complaining of shoulder pain with real-time sonoelastography. Also to compare the elastography findings with the MRI findings .

2o healthy volunteers & 40 patients with painful shoulder were examined by elastography using the EUB – Hitachi 7500 Japan. Electronic array transducers of 7.5 and/or 13 MHz were used. The findings of Sonoelastography were compared to the grey scale (B-mode). Tendon insertion, midportion and musculotendinous junction were examined by the B-mode for tendon thickening, focal intratendinous abnormal high echogenicity, interruption of its fibers, calcification, paratenonitis and bursitis . By Sonoelastography , we have evaluated the tendon parts by a seminquantitative score of different colors representing stiff tissue (blue) to more soft tissue (green, yellow, red). The findings were compared to the findings of MRI in 20 patients.

By elastography , Tendons in healthy volunteers showed blue color allthrough, consistent with stiff normal tendon tissue and normal findings at gray scale. Patients showed intratendinous color alterations (green , yellow & red) not reaching the bursal or articular aspects in partial tear & reaching the bursal or articular surfaces in complete tear . These findings were matching with the gey scale findings of tendon thickening & focal hyperechogenic focus . In comparison to healthy volunteers , there was significant differences for tendon stiffness (P < 0.0001). Also there was a good correlation between the elastography & MRI findings in 20 patients (P < 0.001).

Sonoelastography is a sensitive method for diagnosis of rotator cuff tears. Detection of tissue softening by elastography might predict progressive tendinosis at different stages & can be used as a method as an easy reproducible follow up study to monitor treatment.

Sono-elastography is a sensitive & reproducible method to diagnose tendon tears. It is a new evolving method in imaging the muskuloskeletal system.

Abdel Razek, N, Ezzat, L, Real-time Sono-elastography in Assessment of Rotator Cuff Tendon Tears: Comparison of Findings between Elastography and MRI in Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Shoulder Pain.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6015194.html