Direct coronal view of the shoulder with arthrographic CT

Direct coronal oblique views of the shoulder were obtained with arthrographic computed tomography (CT) in 35 shoulders with surgical correlation. There were 18 complete cuff tears, four partial ones, two type 3 superior labral, anterior, and posterior (SLAP) lesions, and one type 4 SLAP lesion. The coronal sections were obtained after double-contrast shoulder arthrography and axial CT sections had already been obtained. The patient was seated directly on the slope of the gantry, and the shoulder to be studied was positioned in the center of the gantry. The maximal time needed for this procedure was 5 minutes. Rotator cuff tears were detected with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 100%. The size of the tears as determined on the coronal sections was strongly correlated with surgical measurement (r = .939). All SLAP lesions were detected. The authors' experience shows that obtaining coronal oblique sections is an effective way to improve arthrographic CT.