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. 2019 Jul;38(3):215-220.
doi: 10.14366/usg.18058. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for rotator cuff tears

Kelechi R Okoroha  1 , Mohsin S Fidai  1 , Joseph S Tramer  1 , Kayla D Davis  2 , Patricia A Kolowich  1
Affiliations

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for rotator cuff tears

Kelechi R Okoroha et al. Ultrasonography. 2019 Jul.

Abstract

Ultrasonography (US) is an inexpensive, convenient, and effective tool that can be used to evaluate the shoulder. It does not expose the patient to harmful radiation and can be used to evaluate the musculoskeletal system dynamically. Additionally, US is not subject to metal artifacts when evaluating patients with previously placed hardware. Over the years, US has been found to be reliable and accurate for diagnosing rotator cuff tears (RCTs), despite its operatordependence. The usage of US for diagnosing RCTs in orthopedic practice varies depending on practitioners' familiarity with the exam and the availability of experienced technicians. The purpose of this article is to review the diagnostic accuracy of US for identifying RCTs.

Keywords: Diagnostic imaging; Rotator cuff; Rotator cuff tear; Ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.. A 65-year-old woman with a full-thickness supraspinatus tear.
T2 coronal magnetic resonance imaging (A) and coronal ultrasonography (B) show the location of the supraspinatus tear (arrows), measuring approximately 1.6 cm.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.. A 60-year-old woman presenting with right shoulder pain.
Coronal ultrasonography demonstrates a 1-cm, partial-thickness articular-sided rotator cuff tear with intact bursal fibers (dotted line).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.. A 76-year-old woman with a chronic full-thickness supraspinatus tear.
A. T1 sagittal magnetic resonance image shows Goutallier grade 4 fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus muscle (arrow). B. Coronal ultrasonography demonstrates the supraspinatus muscle (arrow) with areas of increased echogenicity indicative of fatty infiltration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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