Ultrasonographic evaluation of rotator cuff leison

We investigated the reliablity of the ultrasonography for diagnosis of rotatar cuff taers. We prepared histological sections of forty shoulder joints In match the ultrasound planes, and conducted a comparative study of tke two sets of images. hi cases of rotator cuff tear, hyperechogenic and cartilaginfication of the tear site were detected as hyperechogenic foci. On the countrary, the regions in which tendon fibers were decreased or absent showed sonolucent areas. We caluculated the echo level of rotator cuff objectively. The area of abnormal echo level and the other regions located in the same depth of the rotator cuff were defined by ultrasonic equipment. The mein difference in these two echo levels was calculated. The mean difference in patients with rotator cuff tears was larger than that in normal cases. These results indicate that ultrasonography is a useful procedure in many patients with rotator cuff lesions.