Tendinosis: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Tendinosis

Also written as: tendinopathy, tendon degeneration, degenerative tendinopathy

Tendinosis means a tendon has become thickened and worn from long-term strain or age. It is a wear change, not a tear.

Seen on: MRI, Ultrasound

How it reads in a report

Moderate supraspinatus tendinosis, without a partial- or full-thickness tear.

What it means

Tendons are tough cords that attach muscle to bone. With repeated strain or age, their tightly packed fibers become disorganized and the tendon can swell or thicken. On MRI the normally dark tendon looks thicker and grayer. On ultrasound it looks thickened and darker, and it loses its fine striped pattern. It is sometimes called tendinitis, but there is usually little true inflammation.

When it matters

Tendinosis is very common, especially in the shoulder, elbow, knee and Achilles tendon, and it may or may not cause pain. It is not a tear, though a worn tendon can be more prone to tearing over time. Doctors match the finding to where and when you hurt. Your doctor may suggest physiotherapy with gradual strengthening and a change in the activities that strain the tendon.

Questions to ask your doctor

Could this tendinosis explain my pain?
Is there any sign of a tear, even a small one?
Which activities should I change while the tendon recovers?

General information, not medical advice. What a finding means for you depends on your symptoms, your history and the images themselves, so talk your results through with a doctor.