Sonoelastography of the common flexor tendon of the elbow with histologic agreement: A cadaveric study

Andrea S. Klauser, Mathias J. Pamminger, Ethan J. Halpern, Mohamed M.H. Abd Ellah, Bernhard Moriggl, Mihra S. Taljanovic, Christian Deml, Judith Sztankay, Guenter Klima, Leonhard Gruber, Werner R. Jaschke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the correlation of the results of conventional B-mode ultrasonography (US) and compression sonoelastography with histologic results in common flexor tendons of the elbow in human cadavers. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five common flexor tendons were evaluated in 16 fresh, unembalmed cadavers of 11 women with a median age of 85 years (range, 71-101 years) and five men with a median age of 78 years (range, 70-88 years). Informed consent was provided according to the last will of the donors. B-mode US results were classified as grade 1, normal tendon with homogeneous fibrillar pattern; grade 2, tendon thickening or hypoechoic areas and/or calcifications in less than 30% of the tendon; or grade 3, hypoechoic areas and/or calcifications greater than 30% of the tendon. Sonoelastographic results were grade 1, blue (hardest) to green (hard); grade 2, yellow (soft); and grade 3, red (softest). The intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to determine agreement with histologic findings for each B-mode US, sonoelastographic, and combined B-mode US and sonoelastographic examination. Histologic results were grade 1, normal, with parallel fibrillar pattern; grade 2, mild tendinopathy, with cellular infiltration, angiogenesis, or fatty vacuoles; or grade 3, severe tendinopathy, with loss of parallel collagen structure and necrosis. Results: Histologic alterations were detected in 44% (11 of 25) of biopsy specimens. Intraclass correlation with histologic results was 0.57 for B-mode US, 0.68 for sonoelastography, and 0.84 for the combination of the two approaches. Conclusion: The addition of sonoelastography to B-mode US provided statistically significant improvement in correlation with histologic results compared with the use of B-mode US alone (P <.02).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)486-491
Number of pages6
JournalRadiology
Volume283
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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