Feasibility Trial to Evaluate Tendon Stiffness Obtained from Shear Wave Elastography Imaging as a Biomarker of Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced Arthralgias.

Aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia (AIA) comprises significant, activity-limiting musculoskeletal symptoms, including joint pain, myalgia, and joint stiffness. We conducted a prospective feasibility study in postmenopausal women diagnosed with early-stage (0-3) hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer who were candidates for treatment with adjuvant AI therapy ( = 16). Tendons of the hands and wrists and the median nerve were imaged using gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound (US) and US SWE.

Ultrasound shear wave elastography of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments in healthy subjects.

Aim Of Study: Most sprained lateral ankle ligaments heal uneventfully, but in some cases the ligament's elastic function is not restored, leading to chronic ankle instability. Ultrasound shear wave elastography can be used to quantify the elasticity of musculoskeletal soft tissues; it may serve as a test of ankle ligament function during healing to potentially help differentiate normal from ineffective healing. The purpose of this study was to determine baseline shear wave velocity values for the lateral ankle ligaments in healthy male subjects, and to assess inter-observer reliability.

Shear wave elastography detects novel imaging biomarkers of aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain: a pilot study.

Aim: To determine whether differences in joint and tendon stiffness as measured by ultrasound shear wave elastography are present in breast cancer patients with aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgias compared to age-comparable healthy control women.

Methods: Postmenopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer who were taking adjuvant aromatase inhibitors and complained of joint pain were enrolled ( = 6). Postmenopausal women with no history of breast cancer, hormone treatment, or joint pain served as controls ( = 7).