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Sonography of the accessory head of the biceps brachii
Ricardo Augusto Lutterbach-Penna1, Monica Kalume Brigido1, Brian Robertson1
1Division of Musculoskeletal Radiology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA.
Abstract:
Anatomic variations in the anterior aspect of the shoulder, such as an accessory head of the biceps brachii muscle, are not uncommon. The magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic appearance of the accessory head of the biceps brachii has been recently described. This series demonstrates the sonographic appearance of the accessory head of the biceps brachii in the bicipital groove. It is an asymptomatic, flat, echogenic structure with average measurements of 7.7 × 1.2 mm in cross section. Knowledge of this anatomic variant can avoid the misdiagnosis of a longitudinal split tear and improve the accuracy of sonography.
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