title: MRI findings of the shoulder and hip joint in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the shoulder and hip joint in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
  
  
  METHODS
  MR images of a total of 25 PMR patients (23 shoulders and 6 hips), 43 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (22 shoulders and 22 hips), and 50 control patients (25 shoulders and 25 hips) were examined. The following MRI findings were evaluated: In the shoulder, thickness and abnormalities of the supraspinatus tendon, effusion around the glenohumeral joint, subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, and the biceps tendon; In the hip, effusion around the acetabulofemoral joint, iliopsoas bursa, and trochanteric bursa. Periarticular soft-tissue edema and bone findings were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The supraspinatus tendon was significantly thicker in PMR patients than in RA patients and control patients (p < 0.05). Severe rotator cuff tendinopathy was frequently observed in PMR patients (p = 0.002). The scores for the amount of effusions (joint, bursa, and tendon sheath in the shoulder and bursa in the hip) were much higher in PMR patients (p < 0.05). Periarticular soft tissue edema was detected more frequently in PMR patients than in RA patients and control patients (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thick supraspinatus tendon, severe rotator cuff tendinopathy, effusion around the joints, and periarticular soft tissue edema can be good indicators for the diagnosis of PMR.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiology , St. Luke's International Hospital , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.forename: Taiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nozaki
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suyama
authors.forename: Mitsumasa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Gensuke
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akaike
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tasaki
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohde
authors.forename: Yukihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saida
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Bursitis; MRI; Periarticular soft tissue edema; Polymyalgia rheumatica; Rotator cuff tendinopathy