Ultrasonography in lesions of the rotator cuff and biceps tendon

Ultrasonography (US) of the shoulder joint was performed in 88 patients, 15 of whom were referred for surgery. US was made with a real-time linear-array scanner, provided with a transducer of 7.5 MHz. Subsequently, all patients underwent single-contrast arthrography of the shoulder. When compared with the arthrographic findings, diagnosis by US showed 21 true positive, 3 false positive, 57 true negative and 7 false negative cases of a full-thickness tear of the rotator cuff. Small tears (2 cm or less in diameter) may be the most difficult to assess. US readily revealed biceps tendinitis and rupture of the biceps tendon, as well as fluid collection in the bursae above the rotator cuff tendons.