American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 166, 1061-1065, Copyright © 1996 by American Roentgen Ray Society

ARTICLES

MR evaluation of rotator cuff pathology using T2-weighted fast spin- echo technique with and without fat suppression

RD Singson, T Hoang, S Dan and M Friedman
Department of Radiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital, New York 10019, USA.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare MR imaging findings from T2-weighted fast spin-echo images with and without fat suppression and then to compare surgical results with those MR imaging interpretations in the evaluation of rotator cuff disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: T2- weighted fast spin-echo images--with and without fat suppression--of 177 shoulder MR imaging studies were reviewed separately in a retrospective, randomized, and blinded fashion. Both sets of images were read in conjunction with the corresponding proton density-weighted images. The diagnosis of normal tendon, tendinosis, degeneration, and partial- and full-thickness tears was made using established criteria. RESULTS: T2-weighted fast spin-echo techniques with and without fat suppression showed excellent agreement in the diagnosis of normal tendon (kappa=.90) amd full-thickness tears (kappa=.98), good agreement for partial tears (kappa=.70) and moderate agreement for the combined group of tendinosis and degeneration (kappa=.53). MR imaging and surgical correlation in 43 patients showed 86% specificity (95% confidence interval, 65-96%) for intact tendons, and 100% sensitivity (95% confidence interval, 82-100%) for full-thickness tears on T2- weighted fast spin-echo imaging--both without and with fat suppression. For partial tears, MR imaging showed a sensitivity of 92% (95% confidence interval, 65-99%) with fat suppression and 67% (95% confidence interval, 39-86%) without fat suppression. CONCLUSION: T2- weighted fast spin-echo imaging--with or without fat suppression--is a highly sensitive technique in the diagnosis of normal tendons and complete tears of the rotator cuff. Because of increased lesion conspicuity, fat suppression tends to perform better in the diagnosis of partial tears.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. L. Rees The pathogenesis and surgical treatment of tears of the rotator cuff J Bone Joint Surg Br, July 1, 2008; 90-B(7): 827 - 832. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. E. Spencer Jr, W. R. Dunn, R. W. Wright, B. R. Wolf, K. P. Spindler, E. McCarty, C. B. Ma, G. Jones, M. Safran, G. B. Holloway, et al. Interobserver Agreement in the Classification of Rotator Cuff Tears Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 2008; 36(1): 99 - 103. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Hambly, P. Fitzpatrick, P. MacMahon, and S. Eustace Rotator Cuff Impingement: Correlation Between Findings on MRI and Outcome After Fluoroscopically Guided Subacromial Bursography and Steroid Injection Am. J. Roentgenol., November 1, 2007; 189(5): 1179 - 1184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. N. Vinson, C. A. Helms, and L. D. Higgins Rim-Rent Tear of the Rotator Cuff: A Common and Easily Overlooked Partial Tear Am. J. Roentgenol., October 1, 2007; 189(4): 943 - 946. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Magee and D. Williams 3.0-T MRI of the Supraspinatus Tendon Am. J. Roentgenol., October 1, 2006; 187(4): 881 - 886. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Herold, M. Bachthaler, O. W. Hamer, R. Hente, S. Feuerbach, C. Fellner, M. Strotzer, M. Lenhart, and C. Paetzel Indirect MR Arthrography of the Shoulder: Use of Abduction and External Rotation to Detect Full- and Partial-Thickness Tears of the Supraspinatus Tendon Radiology, July 1, 2006; 240(1): 152 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. D. Traughber, S. Merandi, and K. A. Traughber MR Arthrography Is Not Proven to Be Preferred Baseline MRI Examination Am. J. Roentgenol., January 1, 2006; 186(1): 265 - 266. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Kijowski, J. M. Farber, J. Medina, W. Morrison, J. Ying, and K. Buckwalter Comparison of Fat-Suppressed T2-Weighted Fast Spin-Echo Sequence and Modified STIR Sequence in the Evaluation of the Rotator Cuff Tendon Am. J. Roentgenol., August 1, 2005; 185(2): 371 - 378. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. Teefey, D. A. Rubin, W. D. Middleton, C. F. Hildebolt, R. A. Leibold, and K. Yamaguchi Detection and Quantification of Rotator Cuff Tears. Comparison of Ultrasonographic, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Arthroscopic Findings in Seventy-one Consecutive Cases J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., April 1, 2004; 86(4): 708 - 716. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Strobel, M. Zanetti, L. Nagy, and J. Hodler Suspected Rotator Cuff Lesions: Tissue Harmonic Imaging versus Conventional US of the Shoulder Radiology, January 1, 2004; 230(1): 243 - 249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. Spielmann, B. B. Forster, P. Kokan, R. H. Hawkins, and D. L. Janzen Shoulder after Rotator Cuff Repair: MR Imaging Findings in Asymptomatic Individuals-Initial Experience Radiology, December 1, 1999; 213(3): 705 - 708. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. J. Seibold, T. A. Mallisee, S. J. Erickson, M. D. Boynton, W. G. Raasch, and M. E. Timins Rotator Cuff: Evaluation with US and MR Imaging RadioGraphics, May 1, 1999; 19(3): 685 - 705. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. HERZOG Instructional Course Lectures, The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Shoulder*{{dagger}} J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., June 1, 1997; 79(6): 934 - 53. [Full Text]