Power Doppler presentation of shoulders with biceps disorder

To investigate the patterns of power Doppler signals on the long head of the biceps tendon at asymptomatic controls and shoulders with clinically diagnosed biceps disorder.

Cross-sectional study.

Hospital rehabilitation department.

Asymptomatic adults (n=27) were included in the control group, and patients with unilateral biceps disorder (n=17) were recruited for the patient group. Basic gray color ultrasound screening was performed for rotator cuff tendons antecedently.

Not applicable.

Three scan views were taken on the anterior shoulder by power Doppler sonography, including the transverse plane of the long head of the biceps tendon, and the longitudinal planes along the lateral and medial edge of the bicipital groove. We compared the patterns and the power Doppler signal area within and between both groups.

In shoulders of healthy controls and the asymptomatic side of patients, the power Doppler signal area of the longitudinal planes along the lateral edge of the bicipital groove was significantly larger than that along the medial edge of the bicipital groove. However, there was no significant difference in the painful side of patients. Moreover, the painful shoulders had a higher prevalence of power Doppler signal medial to the biceps tendon in the transverse plane, which paralleled bicipital peritendinous effusion and rotator cuff abnormalities.

The power Doppler signal was more frequently observed medial to the biceps tendon in shoulders with clinically diagnosed biceps disorder. Whether shoulders with this specific power Doppler signal pattern benefit more from anti-inflammatory therapy needs further exploration.