title: Superior labrum anterior-posterior lesions: diagnosis with MR arthrography of the shoulder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography in the diagnosis of superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesions of the shoulder.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1995 to June 1998, MR arthrography of the shoulder was performed in 159 patients with a history of chronic shoulder pain or instability. Fifty-two patients underwent arthroscopy or open surgery 12 days to 5 months after MR arthrography. Diagnostic criteria for SLAP lesion included marked fraying of the articular aspect of the labrum, biceps anchor avulsion, inferiorly displaced bucket handle fragment, and extension of the tear into the biceps tendon fibers. Surgical findings were correlated with those from MR arthrography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SLAP injuries were diagnosed at surgery in 19 of the 52 patients (37%). Six of the 19 lesions (32%) were classified as type I, nine (47%) as type II, one (5%) as type III, and three (16%) as type IV. MR arthrography had a sensitivity of 89% (17 of 19 patients), a specificity of 91% (30 of 33 patients), and an accuracy of 90% (47 of 52 patients). The MR arthrographic classification showed correlation with the arthroscopic or surgical classification in 13 of 17 patients (76%) in whom SLAP lesions were diagnosed at MR arthrography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR arthrography is a useful and accurate technique in the diagnosis of SLAP lesions of the shoulder. MR arthrography provides pertinent preoperative information with regard to the exact location of tears and grade of involvement of the biceps tendon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA. bencardi@lij.edu
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Bencardino
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beltran
authors.forename: Z S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rokito
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmahmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mellado
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001175:Arthrography; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery