M. Fermand et al., Ultrasound investigation of the rotator cuff after computed arthrotomography coupled to bursography, JOINT BONE, 67(4), 2000, pp. 310-314
Objectives. To evaluate the diagnostic performance of ultrasound rotator cu
ff imaging after injection of contrast medium into the glenohumeral joint a
nd subacromial bursa. Patients and methods. Twenty-eight patients underwent
ultrasonography before and after injection into the glenohumeral joint and
subacromial bursa of a mixture of iodinated contrast medium and lidocaine
solution. Findings were compared with those from computed tomography of the
joint and bursa. Results. Sixteen 16 (16/28, 57%) post-contrast ultrasound
scans revealed or confirmed rotator cuff lesions. For supraspinatus and in
fraspinatus lesions, there were three false-negatives and no false-positive
s. Three false-negatives were recorded for subscapularis lesions. All false
-negatives occurred both before and after the contrast medium injections. C
onclusion. Injecting contrast medium into the glenohumeral joint and subacr
omial bursa improves the diagnostic yield of rotator cuff ultrasonography.
We suggest that ultrasonography be performed after injections of drugs into
the shoulder structures, particularly the subacromial bursa. Joint Bone Sp
ine 2000; 67 : 310-4. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier
SAS.