Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ultrasound signs of calcifying tendon disease in dogs
By Mistieri, Maria Ligia A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2012·Department of Veterinary Medicine, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ultrasonographic evaluation of canine supraspinatus calcifying tendinosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old Labrador was brought in for shoulder pain and difficulty moving his front leg. The veterinarian used ultrasound to examine the dog's supraspinatus tendon, which showed signs of calcifying tendinosis, a condition where calcium deposits form in the tendon, causing pain. The ultrasound revealed a hyperechoic area and inflammation around the calcification, which correlated with the dog's pain. This imaging technique provided more detailed information than X-rays alone, helping the vet to understand the issue better and guide treatment. With appropriate care, the dog was able to recover and regain mobility.
People also search for: dog shoulder pain ultrasound · Labrador calcifying tendinosis treatment · dog tendon injury symptoms
Abstract
Supraspinatus calcifying tendinosis is an uncommon finding in dogs. Although its radiographic appearance has been described previously, radiographs alone do not provide detailed information about the tendon parenchyma. Tendon ultrasonography has been widely applied for the diagnosis of human tendinosis, but it remains underused in dogs. This article reviews the ultrasonographic technique and variable appearance of canine supraspinatus calcifying tendinosis observed in 33 tendons. The ultrasonographic findings are described. The most common ultrasonographic finding was a hyperechoic area accompanied by distal acoustic shadowing. No relationship with bicipital tenosynovitis was found. A color Doppler examination was possible in only five of the tendons, revealing no blood flow in those tendons. There was evidence that the presence of a hypoechoic area surrounding the calcification was related to clinical signs of pain, suggesting an active inflammatory process. Ultrasonography was an excellent technique to evaluate lesions of the supraspinatus tendon and it revealed details not apparent on radiographs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23033462/