Radiology, Vol 168, 705-707, Copyright © 1988 by Radiological Society of North America
Rotator cuff disruption: diagnosis with digital arthrography
RG Stiles, D Resnick, DJ Sartoris and MP Andre
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego 92161.
Shoulder arthrography is a reliable technique for use in the diagnosis of
tears of the rotator cuff, although delineation of the precise site and
size of tears requires meticulous double-contrast technique and
considerable examiner expertise. The authors initiated a prospective
evaluation of digital arthrography of the glenohumeral joint in 28 patients
with clinical manifestations suggesting rotator cuff tear because they
believed that examination with this technique would allow more accurate
definition of the precise status of the cuff. Fifteen patients had normal
studies. Ten complete and three partial rotator cuff tears were
demonstrated with digital technique, and the precise site of the tear was
demonstrated in all of these cases. The results indicate that digital
arthrography of the glenohumeral joint may have some advantages over
standard arthrography in the delineation of complete and partial tears of
the rotator cuff, particularly in defining the exact site of tears.
