Sonographic characterization of tenosynovitis

ABSTRACT

Tenosynovitis of the extremities is not uncommon but its diagnosis is not easy owing to its non-specific clinical manifestation. Thus it was beyond the field of imaging diagnosis so far. Recently the development of high resolution ultrasonogram has aided preoperative imaging diagnosis of tenosynovitis. The authors performed a retrospective review of 27 patients who had ultrasonography due to tendon pathology(including 18 tenosynovites) by oserving sonographic finding and evaluation the diagnostic value of each finding. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 81.1% and common sonographic findings were focal swelling of the tendon. well-defined margin of the lesion, preserved fibrillar pattern, echo change of the lesion site and fluid collection. Above al,. fluid collection was the only statistically significant criterion for diagnosis of tenosynovitis (p<0.05). But its sensitivity was as low as 50%. In conclusion the ultrasonography is useful in diagnosis of tenosynovitis and fluid collection is of diagnostic value, but the differentiation between nodular tenosynovitis without fluid collection and other benign tumor is still beyond the scope of ultrasonographic diagnosis.