Magnetic resonance visualization of surgical classification of rotator cuff tear: comparison with three-dimensional shoulder magnetic resonance arthrography at 3.0 T.

Abstract

The purpose was to evaluate the diagnostic feasibility of magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) for surgical classification of rotator cuff tear (RCT). Two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) MRAs of 45 patients who underwent and subsequent arthroscopy were evaluated. Full-thickness tears of supraspinatus-infraspinatus tendon were classified based on surgical categories: crescentic, U-shaped, and L-shaped. Signal-to-noise ratios showed no significant difference (P>.05); however contrast-to-noise ratios were significantly higher on 2D MRA (P=.02). Diagnoses of RCTs using 3D MRA were similar to diagnoses using 2D MRA, but had a shorter imaging time. MR visualization for surgical classification was feasible. However, diagnosis of L-shaped tears was limited.