title: Preoperative planning of calcium deposit removal in calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff - possible contribution of computed tomography, ultrasound and conventional X-Ray.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the accuracy of Ultrasound (US), conventional X-Ray (CX) and Computed Tomography (CT) to estimate the total count, localization, morphology and consistency of Calcium deposits (CDs) in the rotator cuff.
  
  
  METHODS
  US, CX and CT imaging was performed pre-operatively in 151 patients who underwent arthroscopic removal of CDs in the rotator cuff. In all procedures: (1) total CD counts were determined, (2) the CDs appearance in each image modality was correlated to the intraoperative consistency and (3) CDs were localized in their relation to the acromion using US, CX and CT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using US158 CDs, using CT 188 CDs and using CX 164 CDs were identified. Reliable localization of the CDs was possible with all used diagnostic modalities. CT revealed 49% of the CDs to be septated, out of which 85% were uni- and 15% multiseptated. CX was not suitable for prediction of CDs consistency. US reliably predicted viscous-solid CDs consistency only when presenting with full sound extinction (PPV 84.6%) . CT had high positive and negative predictive values for detection of liquid-soft (PPV 92.9%) and viscous-solid (PPV 87.8%) CDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US and CX are sufficient for preoperative planning of CD removal with regards to localization and prediction of consistency if the deposits present with full sound extinction. This is the case in the majority of the patients. However, in patients with missing sound extinction CT can be recommended if CDs consistency of the deposits should be determined. Satellite deposits or septations are regularly present, which is of importance if complete CD removal is aspired.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Freiburg, Hugstetter 55, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. izadpanah@me.com.
authors.forename: Kaywan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Izadpanah
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaeger
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Norbert P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Südkamp
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ogon
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography