Abstract
Accurate characterization of pectoralis major tears is important to guide management. Imaging evaluation with ultrasound and MR imaging can be difficult given the complex regional anatomy. In addition, recent literature has redefined the anatomy of the distal pectoralis major. The purpose of this study is to review pectoralis major injuries taking into account new anatomic descriptions using ultrasound and MR imaging, including cadaveric dissection, surgically produced pectoralis tears, and clinical pectoralis tendon tear with surgical correlation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Provencher MT, Handfield K, Boniquit NT, Reiff SN, Sekiya JK, Romeo AA. Injuries to the pectoralis major muscle: diagnosis and management. Am J Sports Med. 2010 Aug;38(8):1693–705.
Connell DA, Potter HG, Sherman MF, Wickiewicz TL. Injuries of the pectoralis major muscle: evaluation with MR imaging. Radiology. 1999 Mar;210(3):785–91.
Weaver JS, Jacobson JA, Jamadar DA, Theisen SE, Ebrahim F, Kalume-Brigido M. Sonographic findings of pectoralis major tears with surgical, clinical, and magnetic resonance imaging correlation in 6 patients. J Ultrasound Med. 2005 Jan;24(1):25–31.
Lee SJ, Jacobson JA, Kim SM, Fessell D, Jiang Y, Girish G, et al. Distal pectoralis major tears: sonographic characterization and potential diagnostic pitfalls. J Ultrasound Med. 2013 Dec;32(12):2075–81.
Lau BH, Butterwick DJ, Lafave MR, Mohtadi NG. Retrospective review of pectoralis major ruptures in rodeo steer wrestlers. Adv Orthop. 2013;2013:987910.
ElMaraghy AW, Devereaux MW. A systematic review and comprehensive classification of pectoralis major tears. J Should Elb Surg. 2012 Mar;21(3):412–22.
de Castro PA, Ejnisman B, Andreoli CV, Monteiro GC, Silva AC, Cohen M, et al. Pectoralis major muscle rupture in athletes: a prospective study. Am J Sports Med. 2010 Jan;38(1):92–8.
de Castro PA, Andreoli CV, Belangero PS, Figueiredo EA, Terra BB, Cohen C, et al. Clinical considerations for the surgical treatment of pectoralis major muscle ruptures based on 60 cases: a prospective study and literature review. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Jan;42(1):95–102.
Fung L, Wong B, Ravichandiran K, Agur A, Rindlisbacher T, Elmaraghy A. Three-dimensional study of pectoralis major muscle and tendon architecture. Clin Anat. 2009 May;22(4):500–8.
Lee J, Brookenthal KR, Ramsey ML, Kneeland JB, Herzog R. MR imaging assessment of the pectoralis major myotendinous unit: an MR imaging-anatomic correlative study with surgical correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2000 May;174(5):1371–5.
Guiu R, Lefort H, Mihai I, Ernouf C, Domanski L. Regarding “a systematic review and comprehensive classification of pectoralis major tears”. J Should Elb Surg. 2013 Feb;22(2):e22–3.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the Mayo Clinic Department of Anatomy staff, and the noble generosity of the Mayo Clinic Anatomical Bequest whole body donors whose altruistic gift made this study possible.
Conflict of interest
No conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chiavaras, M.M., Jacobson, J.A., Smith, J. et al. Pectoralis major tears: anatomy, classification, and diagnosis with ultrasound and MR imaging. Skeletal Radiol 44, 157–164 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-1990-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-1990-7