title: Sonoelastography in the diagnosis of tendinopathies: an added value.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  sonoelastography helps in the detection of abnormalities not yet evident on B-mode exam.
  
  
  METHODS
  in this observational study, we report a collection of cases of symptomatic patients without alterations at ultrasound imaging but with evidence of pathological findings at sonoelastography. Patients, with clinical history suggestive for tendinopathies or surgically treated, and negative at the ultrasound exam, were submitted to sonoelastography. Out of 846, 632 patients with positive ultrasound exam were excluded. Sonoelastography was therefore performed in the remaining 214.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the examination was positive in 168 cases: 78 patients were affected with shoulder diseases, while elbow pathology was observed in 31 subjects; patellar, Achilles and plantar fascia disorders were reported in 19, 27, and 13 patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  sonoelastography can reveal tendon abnormalities of clinical relevance in a high percentage of cases, where the ultrasound exam was negative, making the method a complementary tool to ultrasound evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masiero
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frizziero
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Cosima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiavone
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abate
keywords: imaging; sonoelastography; tendinopathy; tendon; ultrasound