The ultrasound elastography findings in lateral epicondylitis in comparison with healthy individuals

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of strain sonoelastography (SEL) in diagnosing lateral epicondylitis (LE) and to asses clinical and diagnostic efficacy of strain SEL in patients with clinically confirmed LE and in healthy volunteers. Methods: Strain SEL was performed on 110 patients with clinical symptoms of LE and on 56 healthy participants. The common extensor tendon (CET) was evaluated with gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS). The stiffness and the elasticity of the CET was divided into 2 main types and 2 subtypes as a spectrum ranging from hard for 1a to soft for 2b. Results: The thickness of the CET in patients with LE (6.3±1.06 mm) were remarkably thicker than in healthy participants (3.8±0.62 mm) (p