Rotator cuff lesions: signal patterns at MR imaging.

Abstract

The signal intensity patterns of rotator cuff lesions at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were evaluated in 80 patients who had surgical correlation and in 13 asymptomatic individuals (14 shoulders). Six cadaver shoulders were examined with MR, and histologic correlation was obtained in four. All studies were performed at 1.5 T with a flexible circular surface coil. The accuracy of MR imaging in detection of full-thickness cuff tears (31 patients) was 0.95 and of partial thickness tears (16 patients), 0.84. The most common and accurate pattern for full-thickness cuff tears (22 of 31 tears) was a region of intense signal seen on T2-weighted images. Less often the torn region consisted of an extremely degenerated and attenuated tendon with moderate signal intensity or was obscured by low-signal-intensity scar. The intense signal pattern on T2-weighted images was also accurate, although a less common finding (seven of 16 cases), in the diagnosis of partial tears. Tendinitis was recognized as focal or diffuse regions of increased signal intensity or a nonhomogeneous pattern of increased signal often associated with tendinous enlargement. In some patients, manifestations of subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis was present. Tendon degeneration was also manifested as regions of increased signal intensity. Some similarity and overlap of signal patterns of partial interstitial tears, tendinitis, and tendon degeneration are observed.

Gradient-echo versus fat-suppressed fast spin-echo MR imaging of rotator cuff tears.

“…Our sensitivities of 83â€"100%using the gradient echo technique are better than the 47% and 57% results reported by Parsaet al [26] for a similar sequence. Results of both the fat-sup pressed fast spin-echo and the gradient-echo sequences are also comparable with the 80â€" 97% sensitivities reported for conventional dual-echosequences [2,5,7]. In a study of MR imagesof 222 shouldersusinga mixture of conventional and fast spin-echo techniques without and with fat suppression, Balich et al [27] achieved sensitivities for full-thickness tears by five observersof 84â€"96%.…”

Full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff of the shoulder: diagnosis with MR imaging.

“…AJR 158:347-351, February 1992 MA imaging is an effective technique for evaluation of the rotator cuff [1][2][3], which is composed of the subscapulans, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor tendons. The purpose of this study was to determine the MR findings that are associated with full-thickness rotator cuff tears.…”

Mri Evaluation in Suspected Cases of Rotator Cuff/ Labral Tears on Low Field Mri System

“…[2,4,5,6] 2. Partial thickness tears: 3 Different types according to the portion of the tendon that is abnormal:…”

“…[4,5,6] 3. Tendinosis: Histological changes of Rotator Cuff tendons, most commonly mucoid degeneration and fibro-cartilaginous metaplasia, appear as moderately increased focal irregular or diffuse intermediate intra-substance signal intensity on T1-and T2-weighted images.…”

“…In practice, it can occasionally be difficult to distinguish between severe tendinosis and a partial thickness tear; sometimes both possibilities must be considered. [2,4,5] 4. Humeral head Cysts: Humeral head "cysts," foci of fluid signal intensity in the bone marrow of the greater tuberosity near the Rotator Cuff insertions.…”