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Imaging of the Rotator Cuff

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Massive Rotator Cuff Tears

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Abstract

Imaging plays a critical role in defining the extent of rotator cuff tears, which has important implications in clinical decision making, surgical planning, and prognosis. Multiple imaging modalities are available including magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and conventional radiographs, and each provides particular advantages. MR imaging and ultrasound are the most commonly used imaging modalities in the evaluation of rotator cuff pathology, as both offer detailed evaluation of rotator cuff tears with MR imaging providing a more comprehensive evaluation. CT provides information about the degree of atrophy and fatty infiltration of the cuff musculature and is useful for preoperative evaluation of the osseous integrity of the glenoid in rotator cuff tear arthropathy. Radiographs are a good initial evaluation indicating whether a massive cuff tear is likely and readily demonstrates the presence of cuff tear arthropathy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Imaging, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 E. 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Gabrielle P. Konin MD

  2. Department of Radiology and Imaging, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

    Gabrielle P. Konin MD

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  1. Gabrielle P. Konin MD
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Correspondence to Gabrielle P. Konin MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA

    Lawrence V. Gulotta

  2. Professor of clinical surgery, Attending Surgeon, Medical School, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA

    Edward V. Craig

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Konin, G.P. (2015). Imaging of the Rotator Cuff. In: Gulotta, L., Craig, E. (eds) Massive Rotator Cuff Tears. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7494-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7494-5_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-7493-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7494-5

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