title: Rotator cuff sonography: a reassessment.
abstract: This study is both a retrospective and prospective evaluation of the clinical usefulness of shoulder sonography. Ninety-eight patients suspected of having rotator cuff tears underwent sonography of both shoulders. Sixty-two patients underwent double-contrast arthrography performed on the same day as sonography, and 38 patients underwent surgery after sonography. A comparison of the results from ultrasound and arthrography, using published diagnostic criteria, demonstrated a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 43% for detection of a rotator cuff tear. In this study, use of more restricted criteria, a subset of the published criteria, yielded a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 90%. A comparison of sonography with surgery, using this study's criteria, demonstrated a sensitivity of 57% and a specificity of 76%. This report shows that shoulder sonography is less reliable than previously reported and appears to have a very limited role in the evaluation of rotator cuff injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60616.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Cardone
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013708:Tendon Injuries; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography