Abstract
The diagnostic value of MRI for incomplete rotator cuff tears is still controversial. We assessed the effectiveness and limits of MRIs retrospectively in surgical cases.
Fifty-five shoulders of 53 cases of incomplete cuff tears including 22 joint sides,28 bursal sides and 5intratendinous tears which were confirmed at surgery. The oblique coronal and saggital planes of T1and T2-weighted images with a 1.5T MR system were obtained preoperatively and compaired with the intraoperative findings.
In the 22 joint side tears, high intensity signals and mderate intensity signals on T2WI were found in 14 cases and in 7 cases respectively, but they were not recognized in one patient with a depth less than one fourth of the tendon thickness(sensitivity: 95%). In the 28 bursal side tears. those signals were found in 17 and 4 cases. The 7 erosive types failed to be diagnosed(sensitivity: 75%), All 5 intratendinous tears showed the high signals(sensitivity: 100%).
For detecting incomplete rotator cuff tears on MR imagings, the lesions must penetrate more than one fourth of the thickness into the tendons.
