Jiun-Cheng Hsu1, Po-Han Chen1, Kuo-Chin Huang1,2, Yao-Hung Tsai3,4, Wei-Hsiu Hsu1,2. 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia-Yi, No. 6, West Sec, Chia-Pu Road, Putz city, Chia-Yi county, 613, Taiwan, ROC. 2. College of Medicine, Chang Gung University at Taoyuan, Taoyuan city, Taiwan, ROC. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia-Yi, No. 6, West Sec, Chia-Pu Road, Putz city, Chia-Yi county, 613, Taiwan, ROC. orma2244@adm.cgmh.org.tw. 4. College of Medicine, Chang Gung University at Taoyuan, Taoyuan city, Taiwan, ROC. orma2244@adm.cgmh.org.tw.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The gray-level histogram of ultrasound is a promising tool for scanning the hypoechogenic appearance of supraspinatus tendinopathy, and the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the gray-level value of the supraspinatus tendon in the painful shoulder has a lower value on B-mode images even though in different ultrasound devices. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients who had unilateral shoulder pain with rotator cuff tendinopathy underwent bilateral shoulder ultrasonography, and we compared the mean gray-level values of painful shoulders and contralateral shoulders without any pain in each patient using two ultrasound devices. The echogenicity ratio (symptomatic/asymptomatic side) of two ultrasound devices was compared. RESULTS: A significant difference existed between the symptomatic shoulder and contralateral asymptomatic shoulder (p < 0.001) on the mean gray-level value measurements of each device. The symptomatic-to-asymptomatic tendon echogenicity ratio of device A was 0.919 ± 0.090 in the transverse plane and 0.937 ± 0.081 in the longitudinal plane, and the echogenicity ratio of device B was 0.899 ± 0.113 in the transverse plane and 0.940 ± 0.113 in the longitudinal plane. CONCLUSIONS: The decline of the mean gray-level value and the echogenicity ratio of the supraspinatus tendon in the painful shoulder may be utilized as a useful sonographic reference of unilateral rotator cuff lesions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic level III.
PURPOSE: The gray-level histogram of ultrasound is a promising tool for scanning the hypoechogenic appearance of supraspinatus tendinopathy, and the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the gray-level value of the supraspinatus tendon in the painful shoulder has a lower value on B-mode images even though in different ultrasound devices. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients who had unilateral shoulder pain with rotator cuff tendinopathy underwent bilateral shoulder ultrasonography, and we compared the mean gray-level values of painful shoulders and contralateral shoulders without any pain in each patient using two ultrasound devices. The echogenicity ratio (symptomatic/asymptomatic side) of two ultrasound devices was compared. RESULTS: A significant difference existed between the symptomatic shoulder and contralateral asymptomatic shoulder (p < 0.001) on the mean gray-level value measurements of each device. The symptomatic-to-asymptomatic tendon echogenicity ratio of device A was 0.919 ± 0.090 in the transverse plane and 0.937 ± 0.081 in the longitudinal plane, and the echogenicity ratio of device B was 0.899 ± 0.113 in the transverse plane and 0.940 ± 0.113 in the longitudinal plane. CONCLUSIONS: The decline of the mean gray-level value and the echogenicity ratio of the supraspinatus tendon in the painful shoulder may be utilized as a useful sonographic reference of unilateral rotator cuff lesions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic level III.
Authors: Jennifer L Collinger; Dany Gagnon; Jon Jacobson; Bradley G Impink; Michael L Boninger Journal: Acad Radiol Date: 2009-07-10 Impact factor: 3.173
Authors: Jeremy S Lewis; Syed A Raza; James Pilcher; Christine Heron; Jan D Poloniecki Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2009-12-21 Impact factor: 2.362