Enthesopathy
Enthesopathy is a general term referring to a disorder affecting the site of tendon, ligament, or other soft tissue attachment to bone, i.e. the enthesis.
Terminology
Enthesopathy caused by a rheumatological/inflammatory condition, e.g. an inflammatory arthritis, may be more specifically referred to as "enthesitis", although the two may be used interchangeably .
This process may also be referred to as insertional tendinopathy as there are shared imaging features although strictly speaking this is just the tendon being affected without other structures of the enthesis.
Pathology
The causes of enthesopathy are broad. It may be localized and secondary to repetitive mechanical strain, or secondary to another condition which may be confined to a single system, or multisystem .
Enthesopathy can incorporate :
- tendinopathy
- bursitis
- cyst-like erosions
- osteitis (reactive osseous inflammation)
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph / CT
Chronic changes such as :
- enthesophytes
- erosions
- calcifications
- hyperostosis
Ultrasound
The affected tendon/ligament can be thickened, hypoechoic with loss of the normal fibrillary pattern. Hyperemia may be seen on color Doppler .
See also
