Musculoskeletal Ultrasound of Tendons

Musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) has recently emerged at the forefront of diagnostic tendon imaging owing to its ability to provide accessible, high resolution, real-time imaging of tendons throughout the body. This review article discusses the normal sonographic appearance of tendon, pathologic changes across the spectrum of tendinopathy, and the relative utility of US when compared with magnetic resonance imaging. Based on accumulating evidence and experience, US can be considered the first choice imaging modality for the evaluation of tendon structure.