title: Isolated subacromial bursal fluid on MRI of the shoulder in symptomatic patients: correlation with arthroscopic findings.
abstract: Fluid in the subacromial bursa (SAB) is a common finding on magnetic resonance (MR) images of the shoulder, and the implications of this finding have not been clarified. We retrospectively reviewed and correlated the MR features with arthroscopic findings in 21 symptomatic patients who had fluid in the SAB on MR imaging without demonstrable rotator cuff tear. Rotator cuff impingement was the most frequent surgical finding (42.9%). Other frequent surgical observations were glenoid labrum abnormality (28.6%), bursitis (19%), and supraspinatus tendinitis (14.3%). Distribution of acromial types was similar to that reported by Bigliani et al., and impingement was evenly distributed among acromial types in our study population. We conclude that in our patient population group the MR finding of isolated SAB fluid in symptomatic patients is highly likely to be associated with the finding of other abnormalities in the shoulder joint at surgery.
authors: Department of Radiology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1088.
authors: J U
authors: JU
authors: Monu
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Pruett
authors: W J
authors: WJ
authors: Vanarthos
authors: T L
authors: TL
authors: Pope
mesh_terms: D000174:Acromion / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002061:Bursa, Synovial / Q000473:pathology*; D002062:Bursitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013582:Synovial Fluid; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis