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. 2019 Jan-Mar;29(1):19-24.
doi: 10.4103/ijri.IJRI_116_18.

Adhesive capsulitis: MRI correlation with clinical stages and proposal of MRI staging

Amarnath Chellathurai  1 , Komalavalli Subbiah  1 , Atchaya Elangovan  1 , Sivakumar Kannappan  1
Affiliations

Adhesive capsulitis: MRI correlation with clinical stages and proposal of MRI staging

Amarnath Chellathurai et al. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2019 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to correlate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of adhesive capsulitis with clinical stages and thereby propose a MR staging system.

Materials and methods: This study consisted of 74 patients with clinically diagnosed adhesive capsulitis. The edema of the inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL), pericapsular edema, thickness of anterior band of IGHL, axillary pouch, thickness of coracohumeral ligament, and obliteration of fat in the subcoracoid triangle were evaluated by MRI.

Results: Thickening of the anterior band of IGHL showed most significant correlation with the clinical stages. The distribution of edema of IGHL and pericapsular edema also showed significant correlation with the clinical stages of adhesive capsulitis. Pericapsular edema and IGHL edema was not observed in stage IV.

Conclusion: MR is a useful tool for evaluation and prediction of clinical stage of adhesive capsulitis.

Keywords: Adhesive capsulitis; MRI staging; magnetic resonance imaging; shoulder.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1(A-D)
Figure 1(A-D)
(A) Coronal fat-suppressed proton density (PD) image at the level of axillary pouch shows edema of inferior glenohumeral ligament on both the humeral and glenoid aspects (arrows). (B) Sagittal fat-suppressed PD image shows anterior pericapsular edema (arrow). (C) Axial fat-suppressed PD image at the level of humeral neck shows fluid around the biceps tendon (arrow). (D) Sagittal T1-weighted image shows obliteration of fat in the subcoracoid triangle (asterisk)
Figure 2(A-D)
Figure 2(A-D)
(A) Axial proton density (PD) fat-suppressed image shows the measurement of maximal thickness of the humeral (solid arrow) and glenoid portions (line arrow) of the anterior band of inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL). (B) Coronal PD fat-suppressed image shows the measurement of maximal thickness of the humeral (solid arrow) and glenoid portions (open arrow) of the IGHL at the midaxillary pouch at the level of glenohumeral joint. (C) Sagittal T1-weighted image shows the coracohumeral ligament (arrow). Normal fat in subcoracoid triangle (asterisk). (D) Coronal PD fat-suppressed image shows the measurement of maximal height and width of the axillary pouch
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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