Abstract
Calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder is a common condition characterized by the deposition of calcium, predominantly hydroxyapatite crystals, in the rotator cuff. A rare complication of this condition is the migration of calcium deposits from tendons, usually the supraspinatus, into the subacromial–subdeltoid bursa or into the humeral greater tuberosity. These complications are responsible for intense acute shoulder pain and functional disability. Patient anamnesis and clinical symptoms must be considered to make the diagnosis, but imaging, particularly sonography, is often necessary, showing a typical presentation related to the locations of calcium deposits. We present sonographic and other imaging features of subacromial–subdeltoid bursitis and humeral osteitis related to the migration of calcium.
Riassunto
La tendinite calcifica della spalla è una patologia di comune riscontro caratterizzata dal deposito di calcio, prevalentemente cristalli di idrossiapatite, nella cuffia dei rotatori. Una rara complicanza di tale patologia è la migrazione di depositi calcifici dal tendine, solitamente il sovraspinato, nella borsa subacromion-deltoidea o a livello del trochite omerale. Queste complicanze determinano intensa sintomatologia algica ed impotenza funzionale. L’anamnesi e la sintomatologia clinica possono indirizzare la diagnosi ma il ricorso alla diagnostica per immagini, in particolare alla valutazione ecografica, spesso è necessario per giungere alla diagnosi, mostrando caratteristiche patognomoniche in relazione alla sede dei depositi calcifici. In questo lavoro vengono presentati i quadri imaging esemplificativi della borsite subacromion-deltoidea e dell’osteite omerale derivanti dalla migrazione dei depositi di calcio.
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Conflict of interest
The Authors, Valeria Della Valle, Emilio Maria Bassi and Fabrizio Calliada have no conflict of interests to disclose.
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Della Valle, V., Bassi, E.M. & Calliada, F. Migration of calcium deposits into subacromial–subdeltoid bursa and into humeral head as a rare complication of calcifying tendinitis: sonography and imaging. J Ultrasound 18, 259–263 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-015-0163-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-015-0163-4