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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 12/2020

01-12-2020 | Tendinopathy | Musculoskeletal

Utility of sonoelastography for the evaluation of rotator cuff tendon and pertinent disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Yi-Hsiang Chiu, Ke-Vin Chang, Ing-Jeng Chen, Wei-Ting Wu, Levent Özçakar

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 12/2020

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Abstract

Objectives

Sonoelastography has been increasingly used to investigate musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the utility of sonoelastography in diagnosing rotator cuff tendon pathology and pertinent disorders.

Methods

Searching through PubMed and Embase, we systemically reviewed clinical studies in which sonoelastography has been used for imaging rotator cuff tendon pathology and relevant disorders. The primary outcome was the standardized mean difference (SMD) of tendon elasticity between shoulders (or patients) with and without the designated pathological conditions.

Results

A total of 11 cross-sectional studies were included in the meta-analysis. The supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons assessed by shear wave sonoelastography were likely to be stiffer in shoulders with adhesive capsulitis, with a SMD of 2.103 (95% confidence interval (CI), − 0.151 to 4.357, p = 0.067) and a SMD of 1.548 (95% CI, − 0.032 to 3.127, p = 0.055), respectively. Regarding rotator cuff tendinopathy, there was no significant difference in the elasticity of supraspinatus tendons evaluated by shear wave velocity (SMD = − 0.107; 95% CI, − 0.524 to 0.310, p = 0.615) or strain ratios (SMD = 0.153, 95% CI, − 2.134 to 2.440, p = 0.896). Only one study used shear wave sonoelastography to investigate patients with rotator cuff tendon tears and found tendon that elasticity was similar between diseased and normal shoulders.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis revealed that supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons tended to be stiffer in shoulders with adhesive capsulitis. Furthermore, no significant difference in tendon elasticity could be identified between shoulders with and without rotator cuff tendinopathy or tendon tears.

Key Points

• Supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons are likely to have decreased elasticity in shoulders with adhesive capsulitis, as assessed by shear wave sonoelastography.
• There was no significant difference in tendon elasticity between shoulders with and without rotator cuff tendinopathy or tendon tears when evaluated by strain and shear wave sonoelastography.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Utility of sonoelastography for the evaluation of rotator cuff tendon and pertinent disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Yi-Hsiang Chiu
Ke-Vin Chang
Ing-Jeng Chen
Wei-Ting Wu
Levent Özçakar
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword
Tendinopathy
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 12/2020
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-020-07059-2

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