Key result
Various imaging modalities provide distinct benefits for diagnosing shoulder diseases in older adults, including plain radiographs for initial assessment, ultrasound for soft tissues, MRI/MRA for capsular/tendinous lesions, and CT for bony analysis.
Why the study?
Shoulder diseases significantly impair daily activities in older adults, prompting a review of radiologic findings to provide insights for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
What are the radiologic findings associated with shoulder conditions in older patients?
What are the radiologic findings associated with shoulder conditions in older patients?
Different imaging modalities offer specific advantages for diagnosing and planning treatment for shoulder diseases in older adults.
May guide imaging choices for shoulder disease in older adults; leaves open prospective validation of optimal algorithms.
Shoulder diseases, including adhesive capsulitis, rotator cuff tear, and osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint, can significantly impair daily activities in older adult patients. This review aims to examine the radiologic findings associated with these shoulder conditions in older patients, providing insights for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder, leads to pain and restricted movement, thereby causing shoulder dysfunction. Recent advances in diagnostic technology have greatly enhanced the sensitivity and accuracy of diagnosing this condition through radiologic evaluations, including MRI, magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA), and high-resolution ultrasound. Rotator cuff disease is another frequent issue in older adults, with full-thickness tears occurring in 50%-80% of cases. Both MRI and MRA are highly sensitive and specific in identifying rotator cuff tears. Additionally, ultrasonography is recognized for its high sensitivity and specificity in detecting tears of the supraspinatus tendon. Although osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint is less commonly prevalent, its advanced stages can severely affect the function of the upper extremity. Plain radiography is typically the first imaging technique used to assess this type of osteoarthritis. As the condition worsens, CT is utilized to measure glenoid bone loss, glenoid version, and inclination, which are crucial for accurate surgical planning. Each imaging modality provides distinct benefits: plain radiographs for initial structural assessment, ultrasonography for real-time evaluation of soft tissues, MRI/MRA for detailed visualization of capsular and tendinous lesions, and CT for precise bony analysis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Kim et al. (2025) conducted a review in Shoulder diseases (adhesive capsulitis, rotator cuff tear, osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint). Radiologic evaluations (MRI, MRA, ultrasound, plain radiography, CT) was evaluated on Radiologic findings associated with shoulder conditions. Various imaging modalities provide distinct benefits for diagnosing shoulder diseases in older adults, including plain radiographs for initial assessment, ultrasound for soft tissues, MRI/MRA for capsular/tendinous lesions, and CT for bony analysis.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: