Qian Dong MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Bo He, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jon A. Jacobson MD, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, BioClinica, Inc Royalties, Reed Elsevier Equipment support, Terumo Corporation Equipment support, Arthrex, Inc

Catherine J. Brandon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Stock options, VuCOMP, Inc

Corrie Marlene Yablon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

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

Yoav Morag MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Girish Gandikota MBBS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) in patients with recurrent rotator cuff tear after rotator cuff repair, using revision surgery as the standard of reference.

Institutional review board approval was obtained and informed consent was waived. This retrospective study included 104 consecutive patients (111 shoulders, 63 men, 41 women; mean age, 54.5 years) with recurrent and/or persistent symptoms after rotator cuff repair and subsequent revision surgery from January, 2004 to November, 2013. Reports of US in 52 patients (54 shoulders), MRI in 63 patients (68 shoulders), MRA in 17 patients were reviewed with consensus to determine the presence or absence of recurrent full thickness rotator cuff tear. The imaging results were then compared with the operative reports.

Over all, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in detection of recurrent rotator cuff full-thickness tear in postoperative shoulder were of 90.0%, 87.5%, 94.4%, 90.0% and 87.5% by US, respectively; 82.5%, 92.9%, 86.8%, 94.3% and 86.8% by MRI, respectively. MRA had 100% in all values. The differences in performance of MRI and US for detecting recurrent rotator cuff full-thickness were not statistically significant.

MRI, US and MRA in particular, are highly accurate means for assessing recurrent full thickness tears in postoperative shoulders.

For detection of rotator cuff tear in shoulders that have not undergone surgery, ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) are all accurate methods with high sensitivity and specificity. However, imaging assessment of rotator cuff in postoperative shoulders can be challenging.

Dong, Q, He, B, Jacobson, J, Brandon, C, Yablon, C, Jamadar, D, Morag, Y, Gandikota, G, Diagnostic Performance of Ultrasound, MR Imaging, and MR Arthrography after Rotator Cuff Repair.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14018259.html