Evaluation of rotator cuff tendinopathies and tears with high-resolution ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging correlation

• Published in: Archives of trauma research Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 15 - 23
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Zubair, Ilyas, Mohd, Wani, Gh, Choh, Naseer, Gojwari, Tariq, Ahmad Kazime, Mir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.01.2018; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Kashan University of Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Diagnosis; Diagnostic imaging; high-frequency ultrasonography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical research; Patient compliance; Radiology; Risk factors; rotator cuff tears; rotator cuff tendinopathies; Tendinitis; Ultrasound imaging; magnetic resonance imaging; rotator cuff tendinopathies; High-frequency ultrasonography; rotator cuff tears
• ISSN: 2251-953X; 2251-9599
• DOI: 10.4103/atr.atr_20_17

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of high-resolution ultrasonography (USG) in the evaluation of rotator cuff tendinopathies and tears with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlation to determine its sensitivity and specificity. Materials and Methods: The prospective study was conducted on 40 patients referred to the Department of Radiology for the evaluation of rotator cuff pathologies over a period of 18 months. All the patients underwent high-frequency USG followed by MRI. Variables such as sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), and accuracy of high-frequency USG and MRI were evaluated. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV, and accuracy of high-frequency USG in the evaluation of rotator cuff pathologies in comparison to MRI as standard were 90.6%, 87.5%, 96.6%, 70%, and 90%, respectively. Conclusion: High-frequency USG is almost equally sensitive and specific as MRI for the diagnosis of rotator cuff pathologies, and due to its cost-effectiveness, easy affordability, ease of evaluating contralateral shoulder, more patient compliance, noninvasiveness, and wider applications, we recommend it to be used as a primary modality for evaluating rotator cuff. MRI should be performed in case some extra information is required.