Lateral epicondylitis remains very common term for clinical condition; should not be radiology descriptor
Definitions
Acute or chronic injury to origin of common extensor tendon (CET) at its attachment to lateral humeral epicondyle
Almost always related to chronic repetitive microtrauma/overuse, eventually leading to macroscopic tear
Lateral epicondylitis is thus doubly inaccurate
Does not involve epicondyle except with reactive edema (pathology is primarily in tendon)
Not "-itis" because it is only inflammatory at earliest stages
CETs
Conjoined tendon
Extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB)
Extensor digitorum communis
Extensor carpi ulnaris
Extensor digiti minimi
Extensor carpi radialis longus, brachioradialis, and supinator remainder of extensor mechanism
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Reporting Tips
Selected References
Cha YK et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of patients with lateral epicondylitis: relationship between pain and severity of imaging features in elbow joints. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 53(5):366-71, 2019
Shergill R et al: Ultrasound-guided interventions in lateral epicondylitis. J Clin Rheumatol. 25(3):e27-34, 2019
Pierce TP et al: A systematic review of tennis elbow surgery: open versus arthroscopic versus percutaneous release of the common extensor origin. Arthroscopy. 33(6):1260-68.e2, 2017
De Maeseneer M et al: Ultrasound of the elbow with emphasis on detailed assessment of ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Eur J Radiol. 84(4):671-81, 2015
Dines JS et al: Tennis injuries: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 23(3):181-9, 2015
Konin GP et al: US of the elbow: indications, technique, normal anatomy, and pathologic conditions. Radiographics. 33(4):E125-47, 2013
Tosti R et al: Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. Am J Med. 126(4):357.e1-6, 2013
Wenzke DR: MR imaging of the elbow in the injured athlete. Radiol Clin North Am. 51(2):195-213, 2013
Kotnis NA et al: Lateral epicondylitis and beyond: imaging of lateral elbow pain with clinical-radiologic correlation. Skeletal Radiol. 41(4):369-86, 2012
Poltawski L et al: Reliability of sonographic assessment of tendinopathy in tennis elbow. Skeletal Radiol. 41(1):83-9, 2012
Lee MH et al: Utility of sonographic measurement of the common tensor tendon in patients with lateral epicondylitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 196(6):1363-7, 2011
Clarke AW et al: Lateral elbow tendinopathy: correlation of ultrasound findings with pain and functional disability. Am J Sports Med. 38(6):1209-14, 2010
Frick MA et al: Imaging of the elbow: muscle and tendon injuries. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 14(4):430-7, 2010
Cohen MS et al: Open and arthroscopic management of lateral epicondylitis in the athlete. Hand Clin. 25(3):331-8, 2009
De Zordo T et al: Real-time sonoelastography of lateral epicondylitis: comparison of findings between patients and healthy volunteers. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 193(1):180-5, 2009
Housner JA et al: Sonographically guided percutaneous needle tenotomy for the treatment of chronic tendinosis. J Ultrasound Med. 28(9):1187-92, 2009
Merrell G et al: Arthroscopic treatment of lateral epicondylitis. J Hand Surg Am. 34(6):1130-4, 2009
Scher DL et al: Lateral epicondylitis. Orthopedics. 32(4), 2009
Sampson S et al: Platelet rich plasma injection grafts for musculoskeletal injuries: a review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 1(3-4):165-74, 2008
Thornton SJ et al: Treatment of recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis with suture anchor repair. Am J Sports Med. 33(10):1558-64, 2005
Chung CB et al: MR imaging of tendon abnormalities of the elbow. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 12(2):233-45, vi, 2004
Miller TT et al: Comparison of sonography and MRI for diagnosing epicondylitis. J Clin Ultrasound. 30(4):193-202, 2002
Bredella MA et al: MR imaging findings of lateral ulnar collateral ligament abnormalities in patients with lateral epicondylitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 173(5):1379-82, 1999
Lateral epicondylitis remains very common term for clinical condition; should not be radiology descriptor
Definitions
Acute or chronic injury to origin of common extensor tendon (CET) at its attachment to lateral humeral epicondyle
Almost always related to chronic repetitive microtrauma/overuse, eventually leading to macroscopic tear
Lateral epicondylitis is thus doubly inaccurate
Does not involve epicondyle except with reactive edema (pathology is primarily in tendon)
Not "-itis" because it is only inflammatory at earliest stages
CETs
Conjoined tendon
Extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB)
Extensor digitorum communis
Extensor carpi ulnaris
Extensor digiti minimi
Extensor carpi radialis longus, brachioradialis, and supinator remainder of extensor mechanism
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Reporting Tips
Selected References
Cha YK et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of patients with lateral epicondylitis: relationship between pain and severity of imaging features in elbow joints. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 53(5):366-71, 2019
Shergill R et al: Ultrasound-guided interventions in lateral epicondylitis. J Clin Rheumatol. 25(3):e27-34, 2019
Pierce TP et al: A systematic review of tennis elbow surgery: open versus arthroscopic versus percutaneous release of the common extensor origin. Arthroscopy. 33(6):1260-68.e2, 2017
De Maeseneer M et al: Ultrasound of the elbow with emphasis on detailed assessment of ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Eur J Radiol. 84(4):671-81, 2015
Dines JS et al: Tennis injuries: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 23(3):181-9, 2015
Konin GP et al: US of the elbow: indications, technique, normal anatomy, and pathologic conditions. Radiographics. 33(4):E125-47, 2013
Tosti R et al: Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. Am J Med. 126(4):357.e1-6, 2013
Wenzke DR: MR imaging of the elbow in the injured athlete. Radiol Clin North Am. 51(2):195-213, 2013
Kotnis NA et al: Lateral epicondylitis and beyond: imaging of lateral elbow pain with clinical-radiologic correlation. Skeletal Radiol. 41(4):369-86, 2012
Poltawski L et al: Reliability of sonographic assessment of tendinopathy in tennis elbow. Skeletal Radiol. 41(1):83-9, 2012
Lee MH et al: Utility of sonographic measurement of the common tensor tendon in patients with lateral epicondylitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 196(6):1363-7, 2011
Clarke AW et al: Lateral elbow tendinopathy: correlation of ultrasound findings with pain and functional disability. Am J Sports Med. 38(6):1209-14, 2010
Frick MA et al: Imaging of the elbow: muscle and tendon injuries. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 14(4):430-7, 2010
Cohen MS et al: Open and arthroscopic management of lateral epicondylitis in the athlete. Hand Clin. 25(3):331-8, 2009
De Zordo T et al: Real-time sonoelastography of lateral epicondylitis: comparison of findings between patients and healthy volunteers. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 193(1):180-5, 2009
Housner JA et al: Sonographically guided percutaneous needle tenotomy for the treatment of chronic tendinosis. J Ultrasound Med. 28(9):1187-92, 2009
Merrell G et al: Arthroscopic treatment of lateral epicondylitis. J Hand Surg Am. 34(6):1130-4, 2009
Scher DL et al: Lateral epicondylitis. Orthopedics. 32(4), 2009
Sampson S et al: Platelet rich plasma injection grafts for musculoskeletal injuries: a review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 1(3-4):165-74, 2008
Thornton SJ et al: Treatment of recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis with suture anchor repair. Am J Sports Med. 33(10):1558-64, 2005
Chung CB et al: MR imaging of tendon abnormalities of the elbow. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 12(2):233-45, vi, 2004
Miller TT et al: Comparison of sonography and MRI for diagnosing epicondylitis. J Clin Ultrasound. 30(4):193-202, 2002
Bredella MA et al: MR imaging findings of lateral ulnar collateral ligament abnormalities in patients with lateral epicondylitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 173(5):1379-82, 1999
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