Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasonography for Rotator Cuff Tears: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: With recent improvements in transducer strength, image resolution, and operator training, ultrasound (US) provides an excellent alternative imaging modality for the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears. Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of US for partial- and full-thickness rotator cuff tears and biceps tendon tears, compare diagnostic values with those of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using arthroscopy as the reference standard, assess longitudinal improvements in accuracy, and compare diagnostic values from operators with different training backgrounds. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for full-text journal articles published between January 1, 2010, and April 1, 2020. The inclusion criteria were studies that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of US for rotator cuff tears or biceps tendon tears utilizing arthroscopy as the reference standard. The exclusion criteria were studies with <10 patients, studies including massive tears without reporting diagnostic data for specific tendons, and studies lacking diagnostic outcome data. Extracted outcomes included diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value. The mean difference and 95% confidence interval were calculated for both US and MRI diagnostic values, and meta-analysis was conducted using the Mantel-Haenszel random-effects model. Results: In total, 23 eligible studies involving 2054 shoulders were included. US demonstrated a higher median diagnostic accuracy for supraspinatus tendon tears (0.83) and biceps tendon tears (0.93) as compared with subscapularis tendon tears (0.76). US was found to have a higher median accuracy (0.93) for full-thickness supraspinatus tears than partial-thickness tears (0.81). US had superior median sensitivity for partial-thickness supraspinatus tears when performed by radiologists as opposed to surgeons (0.86 vs 0.57). Meta-analysis of the 5 studies comparing US and MRI demonstrated no statistically significant difference in diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, or accuracy for any thickness supraspinatus tears (P = .31-.55), full-thickness tears (P = .63-.97), or partial-thickness tears ( P = .13-.81). Conclusion: For experienced operators, US is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic modality for the diagnosis of supraspinatus tears and demonstrates statistically equivalent capability to MRI in the diagnosis of both full- and partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.

Download Full-text

Can ultrasound suffice for triaging patients requiring surgical correction of rotator cuff tears—a comparative evaluation of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging

Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine ◽

10.1186/s43055-021-00477-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aniket Agarwal ◽

Kavita Vani ◽

Anurag Batta ◽

Kavita Verma ◽

Shishir Chumber

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Biceps Tendon ◽

Surgical Correction ◽

Statistical Testing ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Full Thickness ◽

Partial Thickness ◽

Linear Probe ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background Objectives: To comparatively evaluate the role of ultrasound and MRI in rotator cuff and biceps tendon pathologies and to establish ultrasound as a consistently reproducible, quick and accurate primary investigation modality sufficient to triage patients requiring surgical correction of full thickness rotator cuff tears. Methods: Fifty patients, clinically suspected to have rotator cuff and/or biceps tendon pathologies, with no contraindications to MRI, were evaluated by US and MRI, in a prospective cross-sectional observational study. US was done with high-frequency linear probe, and MRI was done on a 1.5-T scanner using T1 oblique sagittal, proton density (PD)/T2 fat-suppressed (FS) oblique sagittal, T1 axial, PD/T2 FS axial, T1 oblique coronal, T2 oblique coronal and PD FS oblique coronal sequences. Statistical testing was conducted with the statistical package for the social science system version SPSS 17.0. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were also calculated to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of US findings correlating with MRI findings. A p value less than 0.05 was taken to indicate a significant difference. Results Mean age was 45 years; 74% patients were males; 77% females and 60% males had tears. Majority of patients with rotator cuff tears were in the sixth decade of life. The frequency of tears was higher among older patients. Fourteen percent of patients had full thickness tears while 64% had partial thickness tears. US was comparable to MRI for detection of full thickness tears with overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV and accuracy of 93.8%, 100%, 100% and 98.2%, respectively (p value < 0.001). For partial thickness tears, US had overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV and accuracy of 75.6%, 82.6%, 89.5% and 78%, respectively (p value < 0.001), as compared to MRI. Subacromial-subdeltoid bursal effusion and long head of biceps tendon sheath effusion were common associated, though, non-specific findings. Conclusion Ultrasound findings in our study were found to be in significant correlation with findings on MRI in detection of rotator cuff tears. US was equivalent to MRI in detection of full thickness tears and fairly accurate for partial thickness tears. Therefore, US should be considered as the first line of investigation for rotator cuff pathologies.

Download Full-text

Diagnostic accuracy of MRA and MRI for the bursal-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears: a meta-analysis

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research ◽

10.1186/s13018-019-1460-y ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tao Huang ◽

Jian Liu ◽

Yupeng Ma ◽

Dongsheng Zhou ◽

Liang Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Characteristic Curve ◽

Mr Arthrography ◽

Diagnostic Value ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Partial Thickness ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background Numerous quantitatively studies have focused on the diagnosis of bursal-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (RCTs); however, the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR arthrography (MRA) remains inconclusive. This study was performed systematically to compare the diagnostic value of MRA and MRI for the bursal-sided partial-thickness RCTs. Methods Three electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, were utilized to retrieve articles comparing the diagnostic value of MRA and MRI for detecting bursal-sided partial-thickness RCTs. After screening and diluting out the articles that met the inclusion criteria to be used for statistical analysis, the pooled evaluation indexes include sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results Twelve studies involving 1740 patients and 1741 shoulders were identified. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR, and AUC of MRA to diagnose bursal-sided partial-thickness RCTs were 0.77 (95% CI, 0.67–0.85), 0.98 (95% CI, 0.95–0.99), 73.01 (95% CI, 35.01–152.26), and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.85–0.91), respectively. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR, and AUC of MRI were 0.77 (95% CI, 0.66–0.86) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.81–0.99), and 37.12 (95% CI, 8.08–170.64) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.78–0.85), respectively. Conclusions This meta-analysis reveals that MRA and MRI have similar diagnostic value for the diagnosis of bursal-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.

Download Full-text

Diagnostic Value of MRA and MRI for The Articular-Sided Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: A Meta-Analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-53384/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lianxin Li ◽

Jinlei Dong ◽

Qinghu Li ◽

Jinye Dong ◽

Dongsheng Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Characteristic Curve ◽

Mr Arthrography ◽

Diagnostic Value ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Initial Examination ◽

Partial Thickness ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background: This study aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR arthrography (MRA) for the articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tear (PTRCT).Methods: Three electronic databases, PubMed/Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library, were utilized to retrieve articles comparing the diagnostic value of MRA and MRI for detecting articular-sided PTRCTs. The pooled statistical indexes included sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive value, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Eleven studies involving 1703 patients and 1704 shoulders were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC and their 95% CIs of MRA to diagnose articular-sided PTRCTs were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.65-0.90), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.91-0.98), 68.14 (95% CI, 33.20-139.84) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.94-0.97), respectively. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC and their 95% CIs of MRI were 0.78 (95% CI, 0.65-0.87) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.84-0.99), 47.82 (95% CI, 8.29-275.89) and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.86-0.92), respectively.Conclusions: This meta-analysis reveals that MRA has a better diagnostic value than that of MRI for the diagnosis of articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, but only small improvement of sensitivity. Considering the price and invasion of MRA, MRI is recommended as an initial examination to detect patients suspected with articular-side partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.

Download Full-text

ROLE AND CORELATION OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN EVALUATION OF ROTATOR CUFF IN PATIENTS WITH SHOULDER PAIN

International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies ◽

10.32553/ijmbs.v5i3.1823 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Niti More ◽

R P Bansal ◽

Mukesh Kumar Sharma ◽

Bijendra Kumar Meena ◽

Abhishek Gupta

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Shoulder Pain ◽

Age Groups ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Joint Effusion ◽

Full Thickness ◽

Mri Findings ◽

Partial Thickness ◽

Labral Tears ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Background: Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complain encountered in general practice with an estimated point prevalence of 6.9 to 26% in the general population. The aim of the study was to determine the accuracy of ultrasonography in detecting rotator cuff tears taking MRI findings as the standard. Available literature related to the present study was reviewed and salient features of each pathology discussed. Methods: This observational, prospective study was carried out in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, National Institute Of Medical Sciences & Research, Jaipur, Rajasthan. A total of 80 patients from all age groups with symptomatology related to rotator cuff of the shoulder joint, on the basis of inclusion criteria, were examined by USG and MRI from a period of January 2019 to June 2020. Results: USG had good sensitivity (82 to 93%), specificity (92 to 97%), PPV (85 to 87%), NPV (91 to 98%) and accuracy (90 to 96%) as compared MRI for diagnosing supraspinatus lesions. The sensitivity and accuracy of USG for detecting full thickness tears was better than the same for partial thickness tears and tendinosis. Conclusion: In our study, USG examination had excellent sensitivity, specificity and accuracy as compared MRI for diagnosing full thickness rotator cuff tears. It was also fairly accurate in detecting partial thickness tears and tendinosis. It was comparable to MRI in diagnosing and quantifying joint effusion and acromioclavicular degenerative changes. USG scored over MRI in diagnosing calcific tendinosis while some findings, such as labral tears, were only detected by MRI. Keywords: MRI, USG, Shoulder pain.

Download Full-text

Ultrasound of the Shoulder

Musculoskeletal Imaging Volume 2 ◽

10.1093/med/9780190938178.003.0121 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 349-354

Author(s):

Corrie M. Yablon

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Diagnostic Accuracy ◽

Acromioclavicular Joint ◽

Biceps Tendon ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Full Thickness ◽

Susceptibility Artifact ◽

Long Head

Chapter 120 discusses US of the shoulder, which is most commonly performed to evaluate the tendons of the rotator cuff. In this examination, the long head of the biceps tendon, subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, and acromioclavicular joint are also examined. US demonstrates equal diagnostic accuracy to MRI in the assessment of partial- and full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Dynamic US of the shoulder is useful to evaluate subacromial and subcoracoid impingement as well as long head of the biceps tendon subluxation or dislocation. US is excellent in evaluating the postoperative rotator cuff, as the metallic susceptibility artifact encountered in MRI is not a problem in US.

Download Full-text

MRA improves sensitivity than MRI for the articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears

Science Progress ◽

10.1177/00368504211059976 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 104 (4) ◽

pp. 003685042110599

Author(s):

Lianxin Li ◽

Jinlei Dong ◽

Qinghu Li ◽

Jinye Dong ◽

Bingzhi Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Characteristic Curve ◽

Mr Arthrography ◽

Diagnostic Odds Ratio ◽

Diagnostic Value ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Partial Thickness ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Background: This study aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR arthrography (MRA) for the articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tear (PTRCT). Methods: Three electronic databases, PubMed/Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library, were utilized to retrieve articles comparing the diagnostic value of MRA and MRI for detecting articular-sided PTRCTs. The pooled statistical indexes included sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive value, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Eleven studies involving 1703 patients and 1704 shoulders were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC and their 95% CIs of MRA to diagnose articular-sided PTRCTs were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.65–0.90), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.91–0.98), 68.14 (95% CI, 33.20–139.84) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.94–0.97), respectively. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC and their 95% CIs of MRI were 0.78 (95% CI, 0.65–0.87) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.84–0.99), 47.82 (95% CI, 8.29–275.89) and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.86–0.92), respectively. Conclusions: This meta-analysis reveals that MRA has a better diagnostic value than that of MRI for the diagnosis of articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears because of an improvement of sensitivity.

Download Full-text