Single and double contrast arthrography in lesions of the glenohumeral joint

One hundred and forty-five arthrograms from single and double contrast arthrography were compared with respect to their accuracy in revealing lesions of the glenohumeral joint. Total and partial rotator cuff tears were accurately delineated by both single and double contrast arthrography. The size of the tear did not correlate with surgical findings with either technique. The volume of the injected contrast medium was larger in full-thickness rotator cuff tears than in normal arthrograms (p less than 0.001; t test). As expected, this volume was not correlated with the size of the tear. Dislocation of the biceps tendon was well imaged if the biceps sheath was filled with contrast medium. The sheath became filled less frequently in total rotator cuff tears than in cases with an intact cuff (p less than 0.001; X2 test). No difference in filling frequency of the sheath could be observed between single and double contrast arthrography. This study did not reveal any major advantages of double contrast arthrography over single contrast examinations in lesions of the rotator cuff and those of the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii.