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Ultrasound elastography in tendon pathology: state of the art

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Abstract

Elastography assesses the biomechanical and structural properties of tissues by measuring their stiffness. Despite promising results, elastography has not yet earned its place in the daily practice of musculoskeletal radiologists. The purpose of this article is to present and examine the data available to date on ultrasound elastography of the tendons through a review of the literature to provide musculoskeletal radiologists with an overview that may help them better understand and use elastography routinely. The most common techniques in ultrasound elastography are described. Then, the aspects of the physiologic and pathologic tendon are presented and discussed. One must make this technique one’s own to better apprehend its contribution to the musculoskeletal imaging field, while bearing in mind that further research will be required before admitting elastography as a reliable and validated tool able to optimize our daily clinical practice.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Pamela Albert for her contribution.

No specific funding was received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Musculoskeletal Imaging, CHRU de Besancon, Boulevard Fleming, 25030, Besançon Cedex, France

    Romain Domenichini, Andrea Podda & Sébastien Aubry

  2. Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France

    Romain Domenichini & Jean-Baptiste Pialat

  3. LYOS INSERM UMR 1033, University of Lyon, Lyon, France

    Jean-Baptiste Pialat

  4. Nanomedecine laboratory, INSERM EA4662, University of Franche-Comte, Besançon, France

    Sébastien Aubry

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  1. Romain Domenichini
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Correspondence to Sébastien Aubry.

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Sébastien Aubry has presented Supersonic Imagine® (Aix-en-provence, France) at symposiums. Other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Domenichini, R., Pialat, JB., Podda, A. et al. Ultrasound elastography in tendon pathology: state of the art. Skeletal Radiol 46, 1643–1655 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-017-2726-2

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