title: Power Doppler ultrasonography in the early diagnosis of primary/idiopathic adhesive capsulitis: an exploratory study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine if increased vascularity in the rotator interval area of the glenohumeral joint capsule could be visualized with power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) in patients with a clinical diagnosis of early-stage adhesive capsulitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic and clinical characteristics from a consecutive series of 41 patients diagnosed with early-stage adhesive capsulitis were recorded and examination with PDUS was undertaken. Images were reviewed by 3 musculoskeletal radiologists, and consensus was determined on the presence of increased signal in the rotator interval area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consensus was achieved on the presence of increased signal in 12 (29%) of the 41 cases. Participants with an increased PDUS signal did not demonstrate a characteristic set of identifying features, suggesting that those with increased vascularity may not constitute a distinct subgroup.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that some patients diagnosed with early-stage adhesive capsulitis demonstrated increased vascularity in the rotator interval area when examined with PDUS. These findings suggest that PDUS may have the potential to assist in the identification of increased vascularization in early stages of this disorder. Further research in the use of PDUS in diagnosing early-stage adhesive capsulitis is warranted.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Australia. Sarah.walmsley@uon.edu.au
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walmsley
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Osmotherly
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Darren A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rivett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002062:Bursitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Adhesive Capsulitis; Diagnosis; Shoulder Pain; Ultrasonography