title: Painful shoulder: comparison of physical examination and ultrasonographic findings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High frequency ultrasonography is an accurate non-invasive imaging technique for evaluating patients with painful shoulder.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical diagnosis established by a physical examination with high frequency ultrasonographic findings in patients with painful shoulder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty one consecutive patients with a first flare of shoulder pain were prospectively included in the study. All had a physical examination performed by two blinded rheumatologists. Ultrasonographic examination was carried out within one week of the physical examination by a third rheumatologist experienced in this technique who had no knowledge of the clinical findings. Ultrasonography was considered the optimal diagnostic technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical assessment showed low accuracy in the diagnosis of periarticular shoulder lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasonography should be used wherever possible to improve diagnosis and treatment of painful shoulder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, La Paz Hospital, Autonoma University of Madrid, Spain. enaredo@eresmas.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Naredo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aguado
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Miguel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mayordomo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gijon-Baños
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin-Mola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014463:Ultrasonography