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Calcific tendinopathy - supraspinatus

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Chronic right shoulder pain with limited painful abduction.

Patient Data

Age: 40 years
Gender: Female

Dense calcification adjacent to the greater tuberosity of the humeral head.

ultrasound

Echogenic mass in the supraspinatus tendon posteriorly with minimal tendon contour deformity and no alteration of echogenicity in the adjacent tendon.

Focus of reduced T2 signal in the supraspinatus at its insertion posteriorly (not the typical location of supraspinatus tears) without adjacent T2 signal hyperintensity or tendon tearing.

Case Discussion

The condition is described as calcific tendinitis yet on both the US and MRI there is very little if any indication of inflammation thus tendinopathy is a better term.

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