TEAR OF THE DISTAL BICEPS TENDON PRESENTING AS AN ANTECUBITAL MASS - MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING APPEARANCES

Objective: To present the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings fo r tear of the distal biceps tendon presenting as a soft-tissue mass in the antecubital fossa. Patients and methods: The authors identified f our patients who had been referred for MRI of an antecubital soft-tiss ue mass and in whom a tear of the distal biceps tendon was found. Resu lts: All four patients had typical MRI findings for a tear of the dist al biceps tendon. In three, a tear at the insertion of the tendon onto the radial tuberosity was associated with small fluid collections at the site of the tear. In one patient there was thinning of the tendon and fluid within the tendon sheath. The diagnosis was confirmed by cli nical correlation and follow-up of at least 1 year (in two patients) o r by surgical exploration (in two). Conclusions: With knowledge of the MRI appearance of distal biceps tendon tear, it should be possible to correctly diagnose the problem, even when the clinical presentation d oes not suggest the diagnosis.