Taisuke Sasaki MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Hiraku Yodono, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Atsushi Shinohara, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kunihiro Matsuo, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yasuyuki Ishibashi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hideki Sato, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To assess the ability of DOC MR arthrography in diagnosing SLAP tears, prospective and retrospective evaluation were performed.

MR arthrography of 47 shoulders in 45 cases, subsequently examined with arthroscopy between January 2001 and August 2003, were evaluated. The study included 37 men and 8 women; 12-62 years old (mean age, 24). Arthroscopic findings were used as the gold standard and type 1 SLAP lesions were considered as normal. All MR images were obtained with a 1.5 T unit using a dedicated shoulder coil. 15–20 ml of diluted gadolinium chelate were used as contrast media. First, we obtained straight axial gradient recalled-echo (GRE) T2* and oblique sagittal fast spin-echo (SE) T2 weighted imaging. Then, double oblique axial (DOA) imaging using GRE T2* and SE T1 sequences, and DOC imaging using fast SE PD and T2 and SE T1 sequences were obtained. SE T1 weighted imaging were all combined with fat saturation technique. Cursors for DOA or DOC imaging were perpendicular or parallel planes to the long axis of the glenoid fossa obtained by an oblique sagittal T2 weighted image. Diagnostic criteria for SLAP tears were two high-signal intensity lines, and irregular or laterally curved area of high signal intensity in the middle or posterior part of the labral-bicipital junction (LBJ) on DOC MR arthrography. In the first part of the study, we evaluated pre-arthroscopic ability of DOC MR arthrography to diagnose SLAP tears. The second part of the study, shoulders with true-positive diagnosis of SLAP tears were assessed retrospectively regarding the exact location of the positive findings in the superior labrum on DOC T1 weighted images.

Sensitivity and specificity of DOC MR arthrography to diagnose SLAP tears were 94% and 89%, respectively. Irregular or laterally curved areas of high signal intensity were observed in the posterior half of the superior labrum in all SLAP tears that were correctly diagnosed prearthroscopically.

DOC MR arthrography was valuable to assess the exact location of the superior labrum and to diagnose SLAP tears.

Sasaki, T, Yodono, H, Shinohara, A, Matsuo, K, Ishibashi, Y, Sato, H, Diagnostic Ability of Double Oblique Coronal (DOC) MR Arthrography for Superior Labrum Anterior-Posterior (SLAP) Tears.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4410724.html