Ultrasound investigation of the rotator cuff after computed arthrotomography coupled to bursography.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic performance of ultrasound rotator cuff imaging after injection of contrast medium into the glenohumeral joint and subacromial bursa.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients underwent ultrasonography before and after injection into the glenohumeral joint and subacromial bursa of a mixture of iodinated contrast medium and lidocaine solution. Findings were compared with those from computed tomography of the joint and bursa.


RESULTS
Sixteen 16 (16/28, 57%) post-contrast ultrasound scans revealed or confirmed rotator cuff lesions. For supraspinatus and infraspinatus lesions, there were three false-negatives and no false-positives. Three false-negatives were recorded for subscapularis lesions. All false-negatives occurred both before and after the contrast medium injections.


CONCLUSIONS
Injecting contrast medium into the glenohumeral joint and subacromial bursa improves the diagnostic yield of rotator cuff ultrasonography. We suggest that ultrasonography be performed after injections of drugs into the shoulder structures, particularly the subacromial bursa.
Fermand
M
M
Porte de Pantin Medicosurgical Center, Paris, France.
Hassen
C S
CS
Ariche
L
L
Samuel
P
P
Postel
J M
JM
Blanchard
J P
JP
Goldberg
D
D
D000173:Acromioclavicular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D002061:Bursa, Synovial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media