Double-contrast computed tomography of the shoulder

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Shoulder abnormalities often present complex diagnostic challenges.
• Accurate preoperative assessment is crucial for effective shoulder surgery planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of double-contrast computed tomography (CT) for shoulder abnormalities.
• To assess the utility of double-contrast CT in preoperative planning for shoulder conditions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 247 patients undergoing double-contrast shoulder arthrography.
• Review of CT images for various shoulder pathologies including labral tears, rotator cuff tears, and loose bodies.
• Surgical correlation in 41 cases to validate CT findings.

Main Results:

• Double-contrast CT demonstrated high accuracy in identifying glenoid labrum tears, rotator cuff tears, and other shoulder abnormalities.
• All confirmed abnormalities in surgically correlated cases were detected by double-contrast CT.
• Significant co-occurrence of rotator cuff tears (80%) and glenoid labrum tears (48%) was observed.

Conclusions:

• Double-contrast CT is a valuable, low-radiation imaging modality for diagnosing shoulder abnormalities.
• The technique is highly effective for preoperative planning, especially in cases of decreased range of motion, pain, or instability.
• Coexisting shoulder pathologies are common, particularly in patients with rotator cuff tears and peritendinitis calcarea.