Tendonitis (more accurately termed tendinopathy in many cases) is a condition involving inflammation, irritation, or microscopic degeneration of a tendon. It commonly affects tendons subjected to repetitive stress, including the rotator cuff in the shoulder, the Achilles tendon, the patellar tendon, and the tendons of the elbow (tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow). On ultrasound, an affected tendon may appear thickened, hypoechoic (darker than normal), and may lose its normal fibrillar (striped) pattern. In acute inflammation, increased blood flow may be seen on power Doppler in or around the tendon. In chronic cases, the tendon may show areas of calcification or heterogeneous echotexture. Ultrasound is a primary imaging tool for tendon disorders because it provides high-resolution images, allows real-time dynamic assessment, and can compare the symptomatic side with the normal side.
Sonography Term