Extratendinous migration of calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff: imaging findings and clinical characteristics with temporal changes

The aim of this study was to analyze the imaging findings and clinical characteristics of extratendinous migration of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder with temporal changes. Seventy-six patients with extratendinous calcific tendinitis of the shoulder diagnosed by ultrasonography (US) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were enrolled in this retrospective study. Clinical symptoms and imaging findings (on radiography, US, and MRI) of extratendinous calcific tendinitis during an acute painful attack were analyzed. Temporal changes were analyzed in 28 patients before an acute attack and 40 patients after an acute attack. For comparison, 65 patients with intratendinous calcific tendinitis were included. Patients with extratendinous calcific tendinitis had a significantly higher average visual analogue scale (VAS) score (8.8±1.6) than the intratendinous group (6.4±2.2) (P