To evaluate and investigate potential relationship between MRI abnormalities of the common extensor tendon (CET) and its clinical symptom in Patients with Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of Patients with Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis and investigate whether there is a potential relationship between MRI abnormalities of the common extensor tendon (CET) and its clinical symptom. Material and Methods: A randomized study was conducted in the Department of Radiology in Paras HMRI, Patna, Bihar, India and Department of Radiology SMS Jaipur, Rajasthan. The study group comprised 30 consecutive patients (20 men and 10 women) with a clinical diagnosis of chronic lateral epicondylitis, which were examined on 1.5 T MR. An MRI scoring system was used to grade the degree of tendinopahty. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE). Results: Total 30 elbows had MRI assessed tendinopathy, that includes 13 (43.33%) with grade 1, 10 (33.33%) with grade 2, and 7 (23.3%) with grade 3 .The average intra-observer agreement for grading the severity of tendinopathy was 79.17%. The median PRTEE score of all patients was 76 (range 8– 98), the median PRTEE score of tendinopathy score 1 was 28, the median PRTEE score of tendinopathy score 2 was 54, and the median PRTEE score of tendinopathy score 3 was 98. The PRTEE scores were gradually increased with the tendinopathy scores. A significantly positive correlation between tendinopathy scores and PRTEE scores (correlation coefficient r ¼ 0.945, P < 0.01). Conclusion: MRI is a reliable tool in determining radiological severity of chronical lateral epicondylitis. The severity of MRI signals changes positively correlate with the patient’s clinical symptom.

Keywords: MRI, Epicondylitis, Tendinopathy.