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Quantitative assessment of the supraspinatus tendon on MRI using T2/T2* mapping and shear-wave ultrasound elastography: a pilot study

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Abstract

Objective

To determine whether there is an association between T2/T2* mapping and supraspinatus tendon mechanical properties as assessed by shear-wave ultrasound elastography (SWE).

Materials and methods

This HIPAA-compliant prospective pilot study received approval from our hospital’s institutional review board. Eight patients (3 males/5 females; age range 44–72 years) and nine shoulders underwent conventional shoulder MRI, T2/T2* mapping on a 3-T scanner, and SWE. Two musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed the MRI examinations in consensus for evidence of supraspinatus tendon pathology, with tear size measured for full-thickness tears. T2/T2* values and ultrasound shear-wave velocities (SWV) were calculated in three corresponding equidistant regions of interest (ROIs) within the insertional 1–2 cm of the supraspinatus tendon (medial, middle, lateral). Pearson correlation coefficients between T2/T2* values and SWV, as well as among T2, T2*, SWV and tear size, were calculated.

Results

There was a significant negative correlation between T2* and SWV in the lateral ROI (r = −0.86, p = 0.013) and overall mean ROI (r = −0.90, p = 0.006). There was significant positive correlation between T2 and measures of tear size in the lateral and mean ROIs (r range 0.71–0.77, p range 0.016–0.034). There was significant negative correlation between SWV and tear size in the middle and mean ROIs (r range −0.79–-0.68, p range 0.011–0.046).

Conclusion

Our pilot study demonstrated a potential relationship between T2* values and shear wave velocity values in the supraspinatus tendon, a finding that could lead to an improved, more quantitative evaluation of the rotator cuff tendons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center/Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 E 17th Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Konstantin Krepkin, Ronald S. Adler & Soterios Gyftopoulos

  2. Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging, 660 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Mary Bruno & José G. Raya

Authors
  1. Konstantin Krepkin
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  2. Mary Bruno
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  3. José G. Raya
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  4. Ronald S. Adler
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  5. Soterios Gyftopoulos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Soterios Gyftopoulos.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Disclosures

Konstantin Krepkin: None

Mary Bruno: None

José Raya: None

Soterios Gyftopoulos: Funding from Toshiba America Medical Systems/RSNA Research Seed Grant, Career Development, #RSD1311

Additional information

IRB statement

This HIPAA-compliant study received approval from our hospital’s institutional review board and waiver of consent.

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Krepkin, K., Bruno, M., Raya, J.G. et al. Quantitative assessment of the supraspinatus tendon on MRI using T2/T2* mapping and shear-wave ultrasound elastography: a pilot study. Skeletal Radiol 46, 191–199 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-016-2534-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-016-2534-0

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