Eujean Kwag, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Ji Young Hwang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jinha Choi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

JooYeon Cho, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To assess the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of rotator cuff after arthroscopic repair and to evaluate the accuracy of MR findings as signs of retear.

From 2006 June to 2010 Feb, 59 patients with postoperative MR imaging after arthroscopic repair for small- to medium-sized rotator cuff tears were included in this study. Conventional MR imaging were performed at 1.5T and 3T, including oblique coronal and oblique sagittal fat-suppressed proton density-weighted and fast spin-echo T2-weighted images. MR images were reviewed for thinning of tendon, high signal intensity of tendon, partial or full-thickness defect of tendon, retraction of tendon, subacromial-subdeltoid bursal fluid, and bone marrow edema of proximal humerus. All MR findings were compared with the presence of retear using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test (p<0.05). Sensitivities and specificities of MR findings were calculated.

There were retears of rotator cuff in 15 of 59 patients (25.4%). Among 59 patients, 25 (42.4%) had thinning of tendon, 47 (79.7%) had high signal intensity of tendon, 9 (15.3%) had partial-thickness defect, 8 (13.6%) had full-thickness defect,  9 (15.3%) had retraction of tendon, 38 (64.4%) had subacromial-subdeltoid bursal fluid, and 11 (18.6%) had marrow edema in proximal humerus. The presence of partial- or full-thickness defect, and retraction of tendon were significantly different between patients with and without rotator cuff retear (p<0.001). Other findings were not different in both groups. Sensitivities and specificities of each MR finding indicating retear of rotator cuff were 46.7% and 59.1% for thinning of tendon, 66.7% and 15.9% for high signal intensity, 46.7% and 95.5% for partial-thickness defect, 53.3% and 100% for full-thickness defect, 60% and 100% for retraction, 80% and 40.9% for bursal fluid, and 6.7% and 77.3% for bone marrow edema.

Radiologists should be aware of postoperative MR findings after rotator cuff repair. The full-thickness defect and retraction of tendon in MRI offer excellent specificities for the diagnosis of rotator cuff retear.

Radiologists should be aware of postoperative MR findings after rotator cuff repair. The MR findings of full-thickness defect and retraction of tendon are important for the diagnosis of retear.

Kwag, E, Hwang, J, Choi, J, Cho, J, Diagnosis of Retear of Rotator Cuff after Arthroscopic Repair with Conventional Shoulder MR Imaging.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12032096.html