An MRI study of symptomatic adhesive capsulitis

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Orthopedics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been explored for diagnosing adhesive capsulitis (AC).
• Existing literature lacks comprehensive MRI analysis details for AC.
• This study focuses on the pathomorphology of the shoulder in Asian AC patients versus healthy controls.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate the pathomorphology of the shoulder in Asian patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis (AC).
• To compare MRI findings in AC patients with those in healthy volunteers.

Main Methods:

• Sixty Asian patients with AC and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers underwent shoulder MRI.
• Standard MRI sequences (T1WI SE, T2WI FSE) were used.
• Evaluated parameters included coracohumeral ligament (CHL) thickness, rotator cuff interval capsule thickness, and subcoracoid fat triangle space.

Main Results:

• Patients with AC showed significantly thickened CHL and rotator cuff interval capsule compared to controls (p<0.05).
• Obliteration of the subcoracoid fat triangle was significantly more frequent in AC patients (73% vs. 13%, p<0.001).
• Synovitis-like abnormalities around the biceps tendon were also more common in AC patients.

Conclusions:

• MRI effectively demonstrates characteristic findings for diagnosing adhesive capsulitis (AC).
• Thickened CHL and rotator cuff interval capsule are key MR indicators of AC.
• Complete obliteration of the subcoracoid fat triangle is a highly characteristic MRI finding in AC.