抄録
(Purpose) The purpose of this study is to clarify the character of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)of a bursal side partial rotator cuff tear.
(Patients and methods) Thirteen patients (13 shoulders) who had been diagnosed as bursal side partial rotator cuff tear at operation were studied. By Comparison, we investigated 40 shoulders, diagnosed as complete rotator cuff tear, articular side partial rotator cuff tear or subacromial bursitis. MRIs were taken in three directions (oblique coronal, oblique sagittal and transverse). T1 weighted images were obtained using a spin-echo sequence and the T2*weighted ones using a gradient-echo sequence.
(Results) Of the 13 shoulders with a bursal side partial rotator cuff tear, six (46%) had a full-thickness high-intensity area, four (31%) had a bursal side partial high-intensity area and three (23%) had no high-intensity area in the cuff on T2*weighted images. The size of the high-intensity area was under 12mm at the oblique coronal plane. Six shoulders with a full-thickness high-intensity area in the cuff at MRI had a deep type bursal side partial rotator cuff tear. Eleven shoulders (85%) had subacromial bursal effusion. There was no gleno-humeral joint effusion in any of the shoulders.
(Conclusion) MRI of bursal side partial rotator cuff tear has a full-thickness or a bursal side partial high-intensity area in the cuff, subacromial bursal effusion and no gleno-humeral joint effusion.
