Magnetic resonance visualization of surgical classification of rotator cuff tear: comparison with three-dimensional shoulder magnetic resonance arthrography at 3.0 T

The purpose was to evaluate the diagnostic feasibility of magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) for surgical classification of rotator cuff tear (RCT). Two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) MRAs of 45 patients who underwent and subsequent arthroscopy were evaluated. Full-thickness tears of supraspinatus–infraspinatus tendon were classified based on surgical categories: crescentic, U-shaped, and L-shaped. Signal-to-noise ratios showed no significant difference (P> .05); however contrast-to-noise ratios were significantly higher on 2D MRA (P= .02). Diagnoses of RCTs using 3D MRA were similar to diagnoses using 2D MRA, but had a shorter imaging time. MR visualization for surgical classification was feasible. However, diagnosis of L-shaped tears was limited.