[Standardised ultrasound scanning of the shoulder--normal and basic pathological findings]

Diagnostic ultrasound (US) is noninvasive, non-ionisating and cost-effective imaging diagnostic technique. It has emerged as a useful imaging modality for the diagnosis of joint and soft tissue pathology. The shoulder is probably the most frequently analyzed joint. Diagnostic US can be considered as an extension of physical examination and has better sensitivity and specificity for the detection of rotator cuff tendon tear compared to the physical examination. A high frequency linear probe (7.5-15 MHz) with high resolution transducer should be used. US investigation of the shoulder includes scanning of the long head of the biceps, the subskapularis, the supraspinatus, and the infraspinatus tendon in longitudinal and transverse planes, and scanning of the subacromial-subdeltoid (SA/SD) bursa, glenohumeral (GH) and acromioclavicular (AC)joint. The most frequent US findings of the shoulder are effusion in the long head of the biceps tendon, and in the SA/SD bursa, tendinosis or tear of the supraspinatus tendon, and the degenerative changes of the AC joint. In inflammatory arthopahies synovial effusion and hypertrophy of the GH joint can be evaluated. Power Doppler sonography is used for detection of sinovial vascularisation. In this paper standardized techinque for the US examination of the shoulder is described. Pictures of normal and sam basic phathological findings are presented.