Abstract
Background: Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complain encountered in general practice with an estimated point prevalence of 6.9 to 26% in the general population. The aim of the study was to determine the accuracy of ultrasonography in detecting rotator cuff tears taking MRI findings as the standard. Available literature related to the present study was reviewed and salient features of each pathology discussed.
 Methods: This observational, prospective study was carried out in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, National Institute Of Medical Sciences & Research, Jaipur, Rajasthan. A total of 80 patients from all age groups with symptomatology related to rotator cuff of the shoulder joint, on the basis of inclusion criteria, were examined by USG and MRI from a period of January 2019 to June 2020.
 Results: USG had good sensitivity (82 to 93%), specificity (92 to 97%), PPV (85 to 87%), NPV (91 to 98%) and accuracy (90 to 96%) as compared MRI for diagnosing supraspinatus lesions. The sensitivity and accuracy of USG for detecting full thickness tears was better than the same for partial thickness tears and tendinosis.
 Conclusion: In our study, USG examination had excellent sensitivity, specificity and accuracy as compared MRI for diagnosing full thickness rotator cuff tears. It was also fairly accurate in detecting partial thickness tears and tendinosis. It was comparable to MRI in diagnosing and quantifying joint effusion and acromioclavicular degenerative changes. USG scored over MRI in diagnosing calcific tendinosis while some findings, such as labral tears, were only detected by MRI.
 Keywords: MRI, USG, Shoulder pain.
Highlights
Background: Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complain encountered in general practice with an estimated point prevalence of 6.9 to 26% in the general population
It was comparable to Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing and quantifying joint effusion and acromioclavicular degenerative changes
USG scored over MRI in diagnosing calcific tendinosis while some findings, such as labral tears, were only detected by MRI
Summary
Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complain encountered in general practice with an estimated point prevalence of 6.9 to 26% in the general population[1]. Clinical examination alone has low sensitivity and specificity in identifying the underlying etiology of shoulder pain[3]. The aim of the study was to determine the accuracy of ultrasonography in detecting rotator cuff tears taking MRI findings as the standard. A total of 80 patients from all age groups with symptomatology related to rotator cuff of the shoulder joint, on the basis of inclusion criteria, were examined by USG and MRI from a period of January 2019 to June 2020. Conclusion: In our study, USG examination had excellent sensitivity, specificity and accuracy as compared MRI for diagnosing full thickness rotator cuff tears. It was fairly accurate in detecting partial thickness tears and tendinosis.
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