[MRI study before and after extracorporal shock wave therapy in calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder].
OBJECTIVE
Extracorporal shock wave therapy has recently been proposed with good results (70%) for treatment of persistent painful calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder. The aim of this study was to evaluate the early impact of shock wave therapy on the anatomic structures of the shoulder.


METHODS
Eight patients (7 women and 1 man, with mean age of 48 years) were prospectively followed up after undergoing shock wave therapy (1500 pulses with 0.28 mJ/mm2 energy). MRI (T1: 500/12 [TR/TE] and STIR: 7200/60/180/180 [TR/TE/TI/alpha]) were obtained 2 hours before and 15 days after the procedure; in addition for 5 of them one more examination was carried out 6 hours after extracorporal shock wave therapy.


RESULTS
There was no significant signal change of the humeral bone or rotator cuff, and the calcification size, when seen (6 times), was unchanged at successive MR examinations. One patient had subcutaneous fat signal change (STIR) next to the zone of impact, which resolved 15 days after the extracorporal shock wave therapy. No bursitis or joint effusion was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Shock wave therapy has no early complications or significant impact on the anatomic structures of the shoulder.
Cyteval
C
C
Hôpital Lapeyronie, Service d'imagerie médicale, 371 avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Baron-Sarrabère
M P
MP
Jorgensen
C
C
Cottin
A
A
Benis
J
J
Sany
J
J
Taourel
P
P
D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff