ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR DIAGNOSIS OF ROTATOR CUFF TEAR

In this study the clinical usefulness of ultrasonography in the diagno sis of rotator cuff tears was assessed. One hundred twenty-two patient s undergoing preoperative ultrasonography were evaluated surgically. T hree different ultrasonographic machines were applied with a 7.5-MHz l inear-array transducer, Surgery confirmed a sensitivity of 79% for ful l-thickness tears and 50% for partial thickness tears. In 73 patients with negative ultrasonographic findings, the specifity was 100% for fu ll-thickness tears and 90% for partial-thickness tears. The diagnostic sensitivity for full-thickness tears of the Hitachi EUB-340 system wa s significantly lower than those of Hitachi EUB-415 and EUB-515, and t hus the former cannot be recommended for detection of rotator cuff tea rs, The sensitivity with regard to partial-thickness tears was also si gnificantly lower with the Hitachi EUB-340 system as compared to the H itachi EUB-515. There were no significant differences in false-positiv e rate among the three machines used. In conclusion, accurate ultrason ographic diagnosis of rotator cuff tear requires a high-resolution mac hine, as well as considerable experience in interpretation.