title: Rotator cuff tear imaging in patients over 70 years: specific MRI findings?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the symposium held by the French Arthroscopy Society on rotator cuff tears in patients over 70 years of age, the absence of studies into potential specific pathological features in this age group was pointed out. Here, our main objective was to describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in this patient population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Tendons and muscles are smaller, lamellar dissection more prominent, and dystrophic changes more marked in patients over 70 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied 50 patients with isolated supraspinatus tears, including 25 younger than 50 and 25 older than 70 years of age. Tear size and retraction were evaluated according to Patte; tendon thickness, lamellar dissection, and fatty infiltration according to Goutallier; muscle size according to Thomazeau; and the tangent sign according to Zanetti.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In contradiction to our study hypothesis, lateral tendon thickness was similar in the two age groups. Medial thickness of the tendon-muscle junction, however, was greater in the younger group. Lamellar dissection was more marked and fatty infiltration more severe in the older group. As expected, marked muscle wasting and a positive tangent sign were noted in over two-thirds of patients in the older group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study in a small number of patients identified specific MRI features of supraspinatus tears in patients older than 70 years compared to younger patients. A larger study would be useful to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Clinique de l'Union, 31240 Saint-Jean, France. Electronic address: jean.kany@clinique-union.fr.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kany
authors.forename: P-H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Flurin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Richardi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hardy
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000473:pathology*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Older patients; Rotator cuff tear