Multi-modal imaging of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.
Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder is a clinical condition characterized by progressive limitation of active and passive mobility of the glenohumeral joint, generally associated with high levels of pain. Although the diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis is based mainly on clinical examination, different imaging modalities including arthrography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, and magnetic resonance arthrography may help to confirm the diagnosis, detecting a number of findings such as capsular and coracohumeral ligament thickening, poor capsular distension, extracapsular contrast leakage, and synovial hypertrophy and scar tissue formation at the rotator interval. Ultrasound can also be used to guide intra- and periarticular procedures for treating patients with adhesive capsulitis.


CONCLUSIONS
• Diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis is mainly based on clinical findings. • Imaging may be used to exclude articular or rotator cuff pathology. • Thickening of coracohumeral and inferior glenohumeral ligaments are common findings. • Rotator interval fat pad obliteration has 100 % specificity for adhesive capsulitis. • Ultrasound can be used to guide intra- and periarticular treatments.
Dipartimento di Medicina e di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi del Molise, Via De Sanctis 1, 86100, Campobasso, Italy.
Marcello
M
Zappia
Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, AORN A. Cardarelli, Via Antonio Cardarelli 9, 80131, Napoli, Italy.
Francesco
F
Di Pietto
Servizio di Radiologia, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Via Morandi 30, 20097, San Donato Milanese, Milano, Italy.
Alberto
A
Aliprandi
Dipartimento di Radiologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza, Centro Traumatologico Ortopedico, Via Zuretti 29, 10126, Torino, Italy.
Simona
S
Pozza
Dipartimento di Radiologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza, Centro Traumatologico Ortopedico, Via Zuretti 29, 10126, Torino, Italy.
Paola
P
De Petro
UO Radiologia 1, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST, Viale Benedetto XV 10, 16132, Genova, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Muda
Servizio di Radiologia, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Via Morandi 30, 20097, San Donato Milanese, Milano, Italy. io@lucasconfienza.it.
Luca Maria
LM
Sconfienza
Adhesive capsulitis; Arthrography; Magnetic resonance; Shoulder; Ultrasound