抄録
We invenstigated the diagnostic capability of MRI for a partial thickness rotator cuff tear. Eighteen shoulders of 18 patients including 14 males (aged 16-71 years with an average 39 years) were scanned in the oblique coronal plane with a 1.0T superconductive MR imager (Shimadzu). T2*-weghted images were available for all of the 18 shoulders and T2-weighted images for 13 shoulders. The diagnoses were confirmed during arthroscopy and/or open surgery. The area of high signal intensity on the image was compared to the location of the tear, which meant the articular surface, the bursal surface or the inside of the rotator cuff. All the shoulders had a high signal intensity area in the rotator cuff both T2*-weighted and T2-weighted images. The location of the tear was pointed out accurately in only 6 out of the 18 shoulders (33%) on T2*-weighted images and in 6 out of 13 shoulders (46%) on T2-weighted images. MRIs did not satisfactorily point out the location of a tear, but was very sensitive to the presof a partial rotator cuff tear. In addition, T2*-weighted images showed the severity and extent of the degeneration and/or inflammation of the rotator cuff. So we believe that MRI is a useful and noninvasive screening method for the indication of arthroscopy and in deciding the surgical treatments.
