Evaluation of calcific tendonitis – do initial plain films tell the whole picture?

Congress:

ESSR 2019

Poster Number:

P-0159

Type:

Scientific Poster

Keywords:

Musculoskeletal soft tissue, Ultrasound, Diagnostic procedure, Inflammation

Authors:

S. Ahmed¹, M. Ho², R. Singh², S. Morgan³, G. Constantinescu²; ¹London/UK, ²Dartford/UK, ³Kent/UK

DOI:

10.26044/essr2019/P-0159

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.26044/essr2019/P-0159

Fig. 12: Sonographic demonstration of a relatively small, but symptomatic calcific...

Fig. 13: Same patient as in Fig. 12 Sonographic demonstration of a relatively small,...

Fig. 14: Same patient as in Figs.12&13. Sonographic demonstration of a relatively...

Fig. 15: Coronal STIR MRI image (left) and shoulder radiograph in same patient showing...

Fig. 16: Axial T2 medic MRI image in same patient as above demonstrating a calcific...

Results

Within our cohort of patients, sonographic evaluation of calcific tendonitis revealed a near constant underestimation of calcific deposit size on initial radiographs. 2 patients from our study cohort of 31 subjects showed good correlation of deposit size on plain film and ultrasound.

The measured difference in two-axis determination of the calcium deposits varied from 3 mm to 5 mm (mean value of 4 mm), with a projected volume underestimation differential of at least 3.9 mm³.

Study limitations include:

-small cohort size

-variable interval between plain film evaluation and sonographic evaluation

-operator-dependent variations of sonographic estimations of rotator cuff calcific deposits