Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41865099›Full record

ArticleSkeletal radiology2026

Collagen-sensitive dual-energy-CT as a quantitative tool for tendinopathy assessment: a prospective diagnostic accuracy study.

Torsten Diekhoff, Suchung Kim, Clemens Gwinner, Tobias Winkler, Ulrich Stoeckle, Carsten Perka, Finn Halfter, Jürgen Mews, Bernd Hamm, Markus Herbert Lerchbaumer

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Article in Skeletal radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Torsten DiekhoffDepartment of Radiology, Immanuel Clinik Ruedersdorf, University Hospital of Brandenburg Medical School, Seebad 82/83, 15562, Ruedersdorf Bei Berlin, Germany. torsten.diekhoff@mhb-fontane.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3593-1449
Suchung KimCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-9709-9805
Clemens GwinnerCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
Tobias WinklerCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0727-4680
Ulrich StoeckleCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
Carsten PerkaCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
Finn HalfterCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
Jürgen MewsCanon Medical Systems Europe B.V. - Global RDC, Amstelveen, The Netherlands.
Bernd HammDepartment of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
Markus Herbert LerchbaumerDepartment of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of collagen-sensitive dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) as a quantitative imaging tool for the assessment and monitoring of load-induced tendinopathy in the Achilles and patellar tendons, comparing it to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

methodsIn a prospective study, 15 consecutive patients clinically diagnosed with Achilles or patellar tendinopathy underwent bilateral DECT and MRI at baseline and 6 months. Quantitative measurements included collagen density assessed via DECT and signal intensity via MRI. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using numerical pain ratings and VISA-A/P scores. The diagnostic accuracy of both imaging modalities was assessed using ROC analysis, and correlations between DECT and MRI findings were investigated.

resultsDECT revealed significantly lower collagen densities on corresponding maps in affected tendons (n = 18, 23.7 ± 20.2) compared to unaffected tendons (n = 12, 60.2 ± 29.6 HU, p < 0.001), whereas MRI demonstrated increased signal intensities in pathological regions. ROC analysis indicated comparable diagnostic performance for DECT (AUC = 0.84) and MRI (AUC = 0.80). A strong inverse correlation (r = -0.83) was observed between DECT-measured collagen densities and MRI signal intensities. Clinical improvements at follow-up were reflected by normalization trends in both imaging modalities, though not statistically significant.

conclusionsCollagen-sensitive DECT provides a reliable quantitative approach for detecting and assessing tendon pathologies in load-induced tendinopathy, demonstrating diagnostic capabilities comparable to MRI while offering the possibility for collagen density quantification.

Indexed as

Achilles TendonCollagenPatellar LigamentTendinopathyTomography, X-Ray ComputedAdultFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesReproducibility of ResultsSensitivity and SpecificityCollagenProspective studiesQuantitative imagingTendinopathyTomography, X-ray computed

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.