Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Jan 28;12(1):23-30.
doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2015.01.003. eCollection 2015 Mar.

Ultrasound vs. MRI in the assessment of rotator cuff structure prior to shoulder arthroplasty

Christian Alexander Fischer  1 , Marc-André Weber  2 , Clément Neubecker  1 , Thomas Bruckner  3 , Michael Tanner  1 , Felix Zeifang  1
Affiliations

Ultrasound vs. MRI in the assessment of rotator cuff structure prior to shoulder arthroplasty

Christian Alexander Fischer et al. J Orthop. .

Abstract

Background/aims: We compared the accuracy of US to 3 T Tesla MRI for the detection of rotator cuff and long biceps tendon pathologies before joint replacement.

Methods: 45 patients were prospectively included.

Results: For the supraspinatus tendon, the accuracy of US when using MRI as reference was 91.1%. For the infraspinatus tendon, the accuracy with MRI as reference was 84.4%. The subscapularis tendon was consistently assessed by US and MRI in 35/45 patients (accuracy 77.8%). For the long biceps tendon the accuracy was 86.7%.

Conclusion: US detection of rotator cuff and biceps tendon integrity is comparable to MRI and should be preferred in revision cases.

Keywords: MRI; Rotator cuff; Shoulder; Supraspinatus; Ultrasound.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Full-thickness supraspinatus tear. Coronal PD-TSE-weighted MRI plane (a) and transverse US image (b). The arrows point out the rupture, hyperintense in the MRI and hypoechoic in the US. A = Acromion; H = Humerus; SSP = Supraspinatus tendon.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Partial-thickness subscapularis tear. Axial PD-TSE-weighted MRI plane (a) and transverse US image (b). The arrows show the focal defect with a thinned-out tendon. Co = Coracoid; H = Humerus, ISP = Infraspinatus tendon, S = Scapula; SSC = Subscapularis tendon.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Tendovaginitis of the long biceps tendon. Axial T2-weighted MRI plane (a) and transverse US image (b). The hyperintense effusion in the tendon sheath is marked (arrow). Similarly the arrow in the US image points out the hypoechogenity that surrounds the long biceps tendon. H = Humerus, LB = Long biceps tendon.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Omoumi P., Bafort A.C., Dubuc J.E., Malghem J., Vande Berg B.C., Lecouvet F.E. Evaluation of rotator cuff tendon tears: comparison of multidetector CT arthrography and 1.5-T MR arthrography. Radiology. 2012;264:812–822. - PubMed
    1. de Jesus J.O., Parker L., Frangos A.J., Nazarian L.N. Accuracy of MRI, MR arthrography, and ultrasound in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears: a meta-analysis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2009;192:1701–1707. - PubMed
    1. Levine B.D., Motamedi K., Seeger L.L. Imaging of the shoulder: a comparison of MRI and ultrasound. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2012;11:239–243. - PubMed
    1. Zanetti M., Hodler J. Imaging of degenerative and posttraumatic disease in the shoulder joint with ultrasound. Eur J Radiol. 2000;35:119–125. - PubMed
    1. Lenza M., Buchbinder R., Takwoingi Y., Johnston R.V., Hanchard N.C., Faloppa F. Magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance arthrography and ultrasonography for assessing rotator cuff tears in people with shoulder pain for whom surgery is being considered. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;9:CD009020. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources