title: Superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) tears: evaluation of three MR signs on T2-weighted images.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the sensitivity and specificity of three magnetic resonance (MR) imaging signs for the diagnosis of superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 23 consecutive patients with a type 2, 3, or 4 SLAP tear at arthroscopy and 31 age-matched control patients with an arthroscopically normal or type 1 SLAP lesion. The superior labrum was evaluated on MR images for high signal intensity extending to the articular surface in the posterior third of the labrum, an irregular or laterally curved area of high signal intensity, or two high-signal-intensity lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of posterior high signal intensity for a type 2, 3, or 4 SLAP tear were 48%, 94%, and 74%, respectively, for observer 1 and 61%, 81%, and 72%, respectively, for observer 2. For laterally curved area of high signal intensity, these values were 65%, 84%, and 76%, respectively, and 56%, 84%, and 72%, respectively. For two high-signal-intensity lines, these values were 17%, 94%, and 61%, respectively, and 13%, 94%, and 59%, respectively. For the presence of either posterior or laterally curved high signal intensity, the sensitivity was 65% for both observers, whereas the specificity was 84% for observer 1 and 74% for observer 2. The kappa values for interobserver agreement were 0.60 for posterior high signal intensity and 0.58 for laterally curved high signal intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laterally curved and posterior high signal intensities are specific signs for distinguishing a SLAP tear from a normal-variant superior sublabral recess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, E3/311 Clinical Science Center, Madison, WI 53792, USA. mjtuite@facstaff.wisc.edu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tuite
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: De Smet
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Orwin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013708:Tendon Injuries; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology*