title: [Impingement syndrome of the shoulder. Clinical data and radiologic findings].
abstract: Subcoracoid impingement syndrome pain is elicited by some positions of the upper limbs, i.e., adduction and inward rotation, whenever coracohumeral space reduces. Although acquired or congenital malformations of the humeral head and/or coracoid apophysis are the most common causes of painful syndromes, repeated flections and inward rotations of the upper limbs, typical of some sports, such as swimming and tennis, and of some sports, such as swimming and tennis, and of some kinds of work, are predisposing factors. The subcoracoid impingement syndrome exhibits on pathogenomonic signs at clinics and the specificity of diagnostic methods is low, which calls for reliable radiologic assessment of this condition. Fifteen patients with subcoracoid impingement syndrome underwent X-ray, US, CT and MR studies. Plain radiography detected no specific signs of this syndrome, but yielded useful information regarding other painful syndromes of the shoulder, such as anatomical variants of the acromion and degenerative changes. US yield was poor because of the acoustic window of the coracoid apophysis, but supraspinatus tendon changes were demonstrated in 2 cases. CT and MRI proved to be the most reliable and accurate diagnostic methods, the former thanks to its sensitivity to even slight bone changes and to its capabilities in measuring coracohumeral distance and acquiring dynamic scans and the latter because it detects tendon, bursa and rotator cuff changes. To conclude, in our opinion, when the subcoracoid impingement syndrome is clinically suspected, plain X-ray films should be performed first and followed by MR scans.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Radiologia, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fanucci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maiotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nardocci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaudioso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Apruzzese
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Mario
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D012399:Rotation; D012540:Scapula; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D013177:Sports; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
vernacular_title: Il conflitto antero-interno della spalla. Dati clinici e bilancio radiologico.