Evaluation of tendinosis of the long head of the biceps tendon by strain and shear wave elastography.

Aim: To investigate strain (SE) and shear wave elastography (SWE) characteristics of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) tendinosis in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

Material And Methods: Twenty patients with a MRI diagnosis of tendinosis and twenty healthy subjects with normal LHBT in MRI were prospectively examined by SE and SWE. SE color mapping was divided into four types in accordance with elasticity designs: type I predominantly blue (hardest tissue), type II predominantly blue-green (hard tissue), type III predominantly green (intermediate tissue), type IV predominantly green-yellow-red (soft tissue). Quantitative measurements of LHBT hardness with SWE were analyzed in kilopascals (kPa).

Results: In the tendinosis group SE types in transverse scan were I in 24% of tendons, II in 50%, III in 25%, and in longitudinal scan I in 15%, II in 75%, and III in 10%. In the control group SE types in transversescan were II in 10% of tendons, III in 55%, IV in 35%, and in longitudinal scan II in 10%, III in 55%, and IV in 35%. SWE values in transverse scan were 38.32±7.2 kPa in the tendinosis group and 18.6±3.1 kPa in the control groupand in longitudinal scan 39.42±7.4 kPa in the tendinosis group, and 20.62±4.6 in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in terms of elasticity patterns between the tendinosis and control groups (p<0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was perfect and a cut-off value of tranverse 25.8 kPa and longitudinal, 24.6 kPa shear values had very high sensitivity and specificity for tendinosis.

Conclusion: SE and SWE may be useful diagnostic tools for LHBT tendinosis when considering usability, cost effectiveness, and patient preference compared to MRI.