Enthesopathy, in musculoskeletal (MSK) medical ultrasound, refers to a pathological condition affecting entheses—the sites where tendons, ligaments, or joint capsules attach to bone. These attachment points are crucial for body movement, and inflammation or degeneration here can lead to pain, swelling, and impaired function. Ultrasound is a vital imaging tool for diagnosing enthesopathy, allowing clinicians to visualize changes such as thickening, hypoechogenicity, or calcifications at these insertion sites.
Early detection of enthesopathy via ultrasound is key for effective management in sports medicine and rheumatology. This imaging modality provides high-resolution views of soft tissues and bone surfaces, helping differentiate enthesopathy from other MSK conditions. Understanding enthesopathy on ultrasound is essential for accurate diagnosis and guiding therapeutic interventions, optimizing patient outcomes for various inflammatory or degenerative disorders.