Rotator cuff disorders represent one of the most common causes of shoulder pain and functional disability across all age groups. Owing to the complex anatomy and biomechanics of the shoulder joint, accurate diagnosis of rotator cuff pathology is essential for appropriate management. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as the imaging modality of choice for comprehensive evaluation of rotator cuff tendons, associated musculature, and secondary changes. To describe the MRI characteristics of rotator cuff pathologies and to evaluate their distribution with respect to age, gender, clinical presentation, and associated secondary changes. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 adult patients with clinically suspected rotator cuff pathology referred for MRI evaluation. Imaging was performed using a 1.5-Tesla MRI system with a dedicated shoulder surface coil. Standardized imaging protocols were followed. MRI findings were analyzed for tendon degeneration, partial-thickness tears, full-thickness tears, muscle atrophy, fatty infiltration, and associated bony and joint abnormalities. Rotator cuff pathology was most commonly observed in the supraspinatus tendon. Partial-thickness tears were more frequent than full-thickness tears. Increasing age, male predominance, and associated acromial and acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes were commonly observed. MRI demonstrated high diagnostic confidence in characterizing the spectrum of rotator cuff disorders. MRI is a highly effective, non-invasive modality for evaluating rotator cuff pathology, enabling accurate diagnosis, classification of tears, and assessment of prognostic factors critical for clinical and surgical decision-making.
Garg et al. (Wed,) studied this question.