title: Quantitative assessment of the supraspinatus tendon on MRI using T2/T2* mapping and shear-wave ultrasound elastography: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether there is an association between T2/T2* mapping and supraspinatus tendon mechanical properties as assessed by shear-wave ultrasound elastography (SWE).
  
  
  METHODS
  This HIPAA-compliant prospective pilot study received approval from our hospital's institutional review board. Eight patients (3 males/5 females; age range 44-72 years) and nine shoulders underwent conventional shoulder MRI, T2/T2* mapping on a 3-T scanner, and SWE. Two musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed the MRI examinations in consensus for evidence of supraspinatus tendon pathology, with tear size measured for full-thickness tears. T2/T2* values and ultrasound shear-wave velocities (SWV) were calculated in three corresponding equidistant regions of interest (ROIs) within the insertional 1-2 cm of the supraspinatus tendon (medial, middle, lateral). Pearson correlation coefficients between T2/T2* values and SWV, as well as among T2, T2*, SWV and tear size, were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant negative correlation between T2* and SWV in the lateral ROI (r = -0.86, p = 0.013) and overall mean ROI (r = -0.90, p = 0.006). There was significant positive correlation between T2 and measures of tear size in the lateral and mean ROIs (r range 0.71-0.77, p range 0.016-0.034). There was significant negative correlation between SWV and tear size in the middle and mean ROIs (r range -0.79--0.68, p range 0.011-0.046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our pilot study demonstrated a potential relationship between T2* values and shear wave velocity values in the supraspinatus tendon, a finding that could lead to an improved, more quantitative evaluation of the rotator cuff tendons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center/Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 E 17th Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krepkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging, 660 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging, 660 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Raya
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center/Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 E 17th Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center/Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 E 17th Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA. Soterios20@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Soterios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gyftopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Elastography; MRI; Rotator cuff; T2 Mapping; Ultrasound