Three-dimensional ultrasonography in the diagnosis of rotator cuff lesions

Two-dimensional (2-D) ultrasound (US) of rotator cuff lesions is a well-est ablished tool. The aim of this study was to elucidate if the use of 3-D son ography can increase the diagnostic yield of US. A total of 40 patients wer e preoperatively evaluated using 2-D and 3-D sonography, and these results were compared to intraoperative findings. Ultrasound was performed on a 530 D US machine (Kretztechnik, Zipf, Austria) with a 10-MHz transducer, We fou nd an increased validity of 3-D imaging, mainly based on the higher reliabi lity in the diagnosis of partial-thickness cuff lesions, Sensitivity and sp ecificity were found to be 91% and 82% for 3-D sonography and 74% and 82% f or 2-D sonography, respectively. With 3-D US partial-tear rotator cuff lesi ons can be predicted more accurately. (C) 2001 World Federation for Ultraso und in Medicine & Biology.