Suzanne L. Woodward MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Qian Dong MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jon A. Jacobson MD, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, Bio-Imaging Technologies, Inc Consultant, SonoSite, Inc Consultant, Hitachi, Ltd Consultant, Mobile Medical Media LLC Royalties, Reed Elsevier

David Alexander Jamadar MBBS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yebin Jiang MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of sonography in the detection of subscapularis tendon pathology, either isolated or in combination with the supraspinatus tendon.

A prospective study was conducted upon 29 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery after abnormal sonographic findings of the subscapularis tendon from January 2006 to February 2009. The sonographic results were reviewed; abnormalities, including tendinosis, partial thickness tear, full thickness tear, and complete tear were correlated to arthroscopic surgical reports.

Twenty nine patients (19 male, 10 female), age 38-83 years (mean 60.7 years) comprised the study population. After sonographic evaluation, the patients were divided into four groups: group 1 with tendinosis; group 2 with partial thickness tears; group 3 with full thickness tears; and group 4 with completely torn tendons. In group 1 (n=5), there were 4 normal tendons and 1 thickened tendon at surgery. In group 2 (n=8), there were 3 partially torn tendons, 1 completely torn tendon, and 4 normal tendons at surgery. In group 3 (n=10), there were 7 full thickness tears, 2 complete tears, and 1 normal tendon at surgery. In group 4 (n=6), there were 5 completely torn tendons, and 1 full thickness tear at surgery.

Ultrasound is useful in the evaluation of the subscapularis tendon, especially with more severe injury. The sonographic findings of full thickness and complete tears correlate best with operative findings. However, ultrasound may overestimate tendinosis and partial thickness tears.

Ultrasound is a fast, noninvasive, inexpensive method to diagnose tendon injury, but is not readily available in all areas. Future larger studies will further validate its use.

Woodward, S, Dong, Q, Jacobson, J, Jamadar, D, Jiang, Y, Sonographic Evaluation of Subscapularis Tendon Pathology with Surgical Correlation.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8009369.html