title: Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Irrigation of Calcific Tendinopathy.
abstract: Rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy (RCCT) is a common disease that may cause highly disabling shoulder pain. No treatment is required for asymptomatic calcifications; mild symptoms may be treated conservatively. Among several therapeutic options, ultrasound-guided percutaneous irrigation of calcific tendinopathy (US-PICT) is currently accepted as the first-line safe and effective treatment for RCCT, with significant pain improvement and a very low rate of minor complications. Different approaches have been reported to dissolve calcified deposits, all including the use of a fluid (local anesthetic or saline solution) and the use of one or two needles to inject and retrieve the fluid/dissolved calcium. This review describes both one-needle and two-needle US-PICT techniques, providing technical and practical information that can improve daily clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Specializzazione in Radiodiagnostica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.affiliation: Radiologia/Diagnostica per Immagini con Servizio di Radiologia Interventistica, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sconfienza
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000628:therapy*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional