IS SONOGRAPHY PERFORMED BY THE RHEUMATOLOGIST AS USEFUL AS ARTHROGRAPHY EXECUTED BY THE RADIOLOGIST FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF FULL-THICKNESS ROTATOR CUFF TEARS

Objective. Sonography and arthrography are techniques used to detect r otator cuff tears (RCT), The diagnostic value of sonography executed b y a rheumatologist versus that of arthrography performed by a radiolog ist for assessment of RCT was investigated among patients with unilate ral chronic shoulder complaints without an underlying inflammatory rhe umatic disease, Methods. Forty-eight patients underwent sonography, ar thrography, and surgical inspection, the results of surgical inspectio n being the gold standard. Results. Sensitivity for assessment of a fu ll thickness RCT was 0.86 for sonography and 0.77 for arthrography, sp ecificity was 0.88 for sonography and 0.92 for arthrography, Conclusio n. Compared to arthrography performed by the radiologist, sonography e xecuted by the rheumatologist is as useful for assessment of full thic kness rotator cuff tears. Sonography performed by the rheumatologist i n combination with history taking and the physical examination during a single visit might change the routine daily practice of rheumatologi sts.