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Media Gallery

Normal plain radiograph of the shoulder in internal, external, and neutral positions.
Subchondral sclerosis of the humeral head as seen in chronic tendinopathy.
Calcification at the insertion of the rotator cuff, another sign of chronic tendinopathy.
Presence of a bony spur on the inferior surface of the acromion.
Superior migration of the humeral head in chronic, complete rotator cuff tear. Note the reduced space between the acromion and the humeral head.
Normal double-contrast arthrography of the shoulder.
This image depicts the channel between the articular capsule and the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa in a complete rotator cuff tear.
Even if the channel cannot be always identified, the presence of contrast medium in the subdeltoid-subacromial bursa signs the presence of a complete rotator cuff tear.
Complete rotator cuff tear with presence of contrast medium in the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa. Also note the multiple irregularities in the synovial fluid showed as multiples filling defects.
Computed tomography (CT)-arthrography scan of the shoulder in the axial plane. Note the presence of air and contrast in the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa.
Full-thickness tear of the supraspinatus seen as a hyperintensity line through the full thickness of the tendon (as viewed in a flash 2-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] sequence in the coronal oblique plane).
Slight hyperintensity signal within the tendon without transsectional hyperintensity throughout the tendon is compatible with tendinopathy without complete tear. Additionally, note the presence of the hyperintensity signal in the region of the subdeltoid-subacromial bursa, which indicates bursitis.
Calcifications are seen as hypointense foci in flash 2-dimensional.
Arthro–magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help to identify labral tears, as seen in this image. The contrast medium penetrates between the labrum and the articular surface.
Ultrasonography is another modality that can demonstrate a complete rotator cuff tear. This image reveals a gap of more than 2 cm between both extremities of the torn tendon.

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Table 1: Radiological Findings on Plain Film

	Tendinitis	Partial Tear	Complete Tear
Normal	X	X	X
Soft tissue calcification(s)	X	X	X
Greater tuberosity flattening or hypertrophy	X	X	X
Humeral head cysts	X	X	X
Acromial sclerosis	X	X	X
Acromial spurs	X	X	X
Acromion type 2 and 3	X	X	X
Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis	X	X	X
Upward migration of humeral head ( < 6 mm)			X

Table 2: Radiological Findings on MRI

Tendons	Soft tissues	Bone structures
Thickening of rotator cuff tendon (RCT)	Intra-articular effusion	Greater tuberosity flattening or hypertrophy
Grey signal intensity within the RCT	Subacromial-subdeltoid bursal effusion	Humeral head cysts
Fluid-filled gap across the tendon	Muscle atrophy	Acromial sclerosis
Retraction	Thickening of coracoacromial ligament	Anterior acromial spur
Grey signal intensity in the long head of biceps tendon		Acromion type 2 and 3 Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis
Rupture of the long head of the biceps tendon		Upward migration of humeral head Os acromiale
Calcifications in the supraspinatus, infraspinatus or teres minor		Bone edema

Table 3: Radiological Signs of Specific Disorders

	Tendinitis	Partial Tear	Complete Tear
Thickening of RCT	X	X
Grey signal intensity within the RCT	X	X
High signal intensity crossing only 1 surface of the tendon		X
Fluid-filled gap across the tendon			X
Retraction			X
Grey signal intensity in the long head of the biceps tendon	X	X	X
Rupture of the long head of the biceps tendon	X	X	X
Calcifications in the supraspinatus, infraspinatus or teres minor tendon	X	X	X
Intra-articular effusion	X	X	X
Subacromial-subdeltoid bursa effusion
Muscular atrophy			X
Thickening of coracoacromial ligament	X	X	X
Greater tuberosity flattening or hyper-trophy	X	X	X
Humeral head cysts	X	X	X
Acromial sclerosis	X	X	X
Anterior acromial spur	X	X	X
Acromion type 2 and 3		X	X
Acromio-clavicular osteoarthritis	X	X	X
Upward migration of humeral head			X

Table 4: Ultrasonographic Signs of Rotator Cuff Disease

Primary signs	Accessory findings
Focal interruption of tendon	Retraction of the muscle
Presence of fluid in the gap	Synovial cysts in the humeral head
Lost of convexity of the tendon and bursa	Hyperechoic foci + shadowing (calcium)
Uncovered cartilage sign	Fluid effusion in the bursa
Diffusely hypoechoic tendon articulation	Fluid effusion in the Ganglion cysts

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Author

André Roy, MD, FRCPC Consulting Staff, Department of Physiatry, Montreal University Hospital Center and Montreal Rehabilitation Institute

André Roy, MD, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Thierry HM Adahan, MD, LMCC, CCFP, FRCPC, FABPMR Head, Pain Rehabilitation Center, Haim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

Thierry HM Adahan, MD, LMCC, CCFP, FRCPC, FABPMR is a member of the following medical societies: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Manon Bélair, MS Consulting Staff, Hospital Notre-Dame, Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Benjamin Dahan University of Montreal, Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Patrick M Foye, MD Director of Coccyx Pain Center, Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Co-Director of Musculoskeletal Fellowship, Co-Director of Back Pain Clinic, University Hospital

Patrick M Foye, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Stephen Kishner, MD, MHA Professor of Clinical Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program Director, Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans

Stephen Kishner, MD, MHA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Robert E Windsor, MD, FAAPMR, FAAEM, FAAPM President and Director, Georgia Pain Physicians, PC; Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Emory University School of Medicine

Robert E Windsor, MD, FAAPMR, FAAEM, FAAPM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Association, International Association for the Study of Pain, Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Rotator Cuff Disease Differential Diagnoses

Differential Diagnoses

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