A Rare Encounter: Documenting a Rotator Cuff Tear Associated With Idiopathic Rice Bodies

We share a case of a cuff tear caused by rice bodies, which typically occur in chronic inflammatory conditions and are often seen in autoimmune diseases. A 62-year-old patient presented with pain and restricted movement in the left shoulder. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed numerous rice body-like accumulations in the subacromial region, and a cuff tear was observed. The patient had no additional comorbidities in the medical history and no signs of infection on physical examination. Surgery was performed to repair the cuff rupture and excise the deposits. The histopathological examination of the excised material confirmed the presence of rice bodies. During the 20-month follow-up, the patient's shoulder function improved and pain decreased. Although cuff tendinopathy is very common, cuff tears secondary to rice body synovitis and its mechanical effects are extremely rare. It should be noted that rice bodies developing in the context of chronic inflammation can present as a shoulder mass without systemic findings in the early stages. Although they may appear idiopathic, patients should be evaluated and counseled regarding possible autoimmune predisposition. In our case, infectious and autoimmune etiologies were carefully excluded through clinical, laboratory, and histopathological assessments.