Sonography of the rotator cuff: analysis of interobserver variability.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to determine the interobserver variability in the sonographic evaluation of the rotator cuff.


METHODS
Two radiologists independently scanned 61 patients with shoulder pain. Each radiologist categorized the rotator cuff as normal, partially torn, or fully torn. When a tear was present, the tendons involved were specified. All diagnoses were made prospectively without knowledge of the findings of the other radiologist.


RESULTS
The radiologists were in full agreement in the categorization of 92% (56/61) of the patients. In four of the five discrepant cases, the disagreement was whether there was a full-thickness or a partial-thickness tear. The radiologists were in agreement concerning which tendons were involved in 80% (41/51) of the patients in whom a tear was detected by both observers. In all 10 discrepant cases, the disagreement was whether a tear involved both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons or was isolated to one or the other of these tendons.


CONCLUSIONS
The level of interobserver variability in the sonographic detection and characterization of rotator cuff tears is low.
Middleton
William D
WD
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 510 S Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Teefey
Sharlene A
SA
Yamaguchi
Ken
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology; D014463:Ultrasonography