• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate any combined rotator cuff pathologies in adhesive capsulitis patients with magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) or ultrasonography (USG), and to see any differences in findings between MRA and USG. Materials and Methods: From June to December 2005, 80 consecutive patients with adhesive capsulitis were prospectively evaluated with either MRA or USG. Two groups were randomly assigned for examination. Evaluation were focused on any combined rotator cuff pathologies especially supraspinatus tendon. Results: Small (less than 1 cm) full-thickness SSP tendon tear were seen in 6 patients (MRA 4, USG 2, 8%) and partial-thickness SSP tendon tears in 21 (MRA 12, USG 9, 26%). In addition, supraspinatus tendinopathy were seen in 15 patients (MRA 7, USG 8, 19%). Overall, various SSP pathologies were reported in 42 patients (53%) of the study objects (MRA 23, 68% and USG 19, 41%). Subscapularis tendon partial tears were reported in 9 patients (MRA 6, USG 3, 11%). There were no statistical differences of the findings between MRA and USG in detecting rotator cuff pathologies (p>0.5). Conclusion: Nearly one half of the adhesive capsulitis patients showed various supraspinatus tendon pathology in MRA or USG. Although MRA group showed slight higher percentage of associated rotator cuff pathology than USG group (without statistical significance), this could be attributed to better resolution capacity of MRA than USG.