title: Ultrasound elastography of the supraspinatus tendon guided by US-MRI virtual navigation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A virtual navigation system (VNS) can combine two imaging modalities for synchronous observation and can be beneficial for diagnosis and treatment. Ultrasound elastography (UE) can distinguish between soft and hard tissues. However, the application of UE to musculoskeletal structures is rare.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate UE of the supraspinatus tendon using ultrasound-magnetic resonance imaging (US-MRI) virtual navigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with an ache in the shoulder were diagnosed with supraspinatus tendon injuries using MRI. US-MRI virtual navigation was used to identify lesions in the supraspinatus tendon, and finally US elastography (UE) was performed. Volunteers whose supraspinatus tendons were diagnosed as normal by MRI were also selected for US elastography. The UE scores were then compared between patients and volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 60 patients were diagnosed with supraspinatus tendon injuries using MRI and forty-two patients classified as Grade I exhibited no obvious abnormality by US. The supraspinatus tendon injury scores were significantly higher in Grade I patients compared with volunteers (P< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US elastography is helpful for the diagnosis of the supraspinatus tendon injuries when used with US-MRI virtual navigation.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Mingyang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiaoxiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D017006:Rotator Cuff; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Ultrasound elastography; supraspinatus tendon; virtual navigation