Abnormal synovium in the frozen shoulder: A preliminary report with dynamic magnetic resonance imaging

• Published in: Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 534 - 543
• Main Authors: Tamai, Kazuya, Yamato, Minoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.11.1997
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Contrast Media; Female; Gadolinium DTPA; Humans; Image Enhancement; Joint Diseases - pathology; Joint Diseases - physiopathology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Middle Aged; Shoulder Impingement Syndrome - physiopathology; Shoulder Joint - pathology; Synovial Membrane - blood supply; Synovial Membrane - pathology
• ISSN: 1058-2746; 1532-6500
• DOI: 10.1016/S1058-2746(97)90086-0

We studied 16 patients (18 shoulders) with frozen shoulders, 8 patients with subacromial impingement syndrome, and 3 healthy volunteers with dynamic magnetic resonance imaging enhanced with gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. After intravenous contrast was administered, gradient-recalled echo images were obtained in the oblique coronal plane every 11 to 13 seconds for a total period of 4 to 5 minutes. The signal intensity was measured at the periphery of the glenohumeral joint and in the subacromial bursa. The coefficient of enhancement (percent signal increase per second) in the frozen shoulders was 1.33±0.43 (mean ± SD) for the glenohumeral joint and 0.89±0.47 for the subacromial bursa. These values were far greater than those in subacromial impingement syndrome or in the control group, indicating increased blood flow to the synovium in the frozen shoulders. No previous reports have shown a clinical measure related to the pathophysiology of this disease.