MR imaging in shoulder trauma. Value of STIR images.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the adequacy of MR standard protocols by analyzing conventional T1- and T2-weighted SE sequences, and to evaluate the usefulness of additional fat-suppressed (STIR) images in shoulder trauma.


METHODS
Paracoronal T1-weighted, T2-weighted, SE, and STIR images were obtained on a 0.5 T superconductive system in 25 patients with shoulder trauma. In a separate evaluation of T1/T2 images and a combined evaluation of T1/T2 SE- and STIR images, we compared the number of patients with evidence of Hill-Sachs lesions, bone bruises, and/or rotator-cuff lesions.


RESULTS
Compared to the combined evaluation of T1/T2 and STIR images, the separate evaluation of T1/T2 SE images revealed identical results for rotator-cuff lesions and Hill-Sachs lesions, but different results for the bone bruises in the area of the major tubercle.


CONCLUSIONS
Occult fractures of the major tubercle, indicated by areas of bone bruising, might be missed with MR using conventional SE images. We recommend the use of additional paracoronal fat-suppressed sequences in patients with clinically suspected lesions and equivocal findings on plain radiographs and on standard SE sequences.
Rand
T
T
Department of Radiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Trattnig
S
S
Haller
J
J
Nguyen
N K
NK
Imhof
H
H
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012782:Shoulder / Q000473:pathology*; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*