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Assessment of instability of the long head of the biceps tendon by MRI.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Spritzer, CE; Collins, AJ; Cooperman, A; Speer, KP
Published in: Skeletal Radiol
April 2001

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether MRI can identify instability of the long head of the biceps tendon (LBT) in the rotator interval. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A retrospective review was carried out of 19 patients, all arthroscopically examined, nine of whom had surgically confirmed instability of the LBT. RESULTS: A LBT perched on the lesser tuberosity correctly indicated all nine cases of instability with one false positive. In six of seven cases where the LBT was oval in shape, no instability of the biceps tendon existed, whereas LBT instability was present in eight of 12 patients with a flat long head of the biceps tendon. In seven of eight acutely angled intertubercular sulci there was no instability of the LBT while eight of 11 obtusely angled sulci were associated with LBT instability. By consensus impression, instability of the LBT could be determined with 67% sensitivity, 90% specificity, 86% positive predictive value, and 75% negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: A flat LBT perched on the lesser tuberosity with an obtusely angled intertubercular sulcus suggests the diagnosis of instability of the LBT in the correct clinical setting.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Skeletal Radiol

DOI

ISSN

0364-2348

Publication Date

April 2001

Volume

30

Issue

4

Start / End Page

199 / 207

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Tendons
  • Tendon Injuries
  • Shoulder
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Rotator Cuff
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
 

Citation

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Spritzer, C. E., Collins, A. J., Cooperman, A., & Speer, K. P. (2001). Assessment of instability of the long head of the biceps tendon by MRI. Skeletal Radiol, 30(4), 199–207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002560100334
Spritzer, C. E., A. J. Collins, A. Cooperman, and K. P. Speer. “Assessment of instability of the long head of the biceps tendon by MRI.Skeletal Radiol 30, no. 4 (April 2001): 199–207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002560100334.
Spritzer CE, Collins AJ, Cooperman A, Speer KP. Assessment of instability of the long head of the biceps tendon by MRI. Skeletal Radiol. 2001 Apr;30(4):199–207.
Spritzer, C. E., et al. “Assessment of instability of the long head of the biceps tendon by MRI.Skeletal Radiol, vol. 30, no. 4, Apr. 2001, pp. 199–207. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s002560100334.
Spritzer CE, Collins AJ, Cooperman A, Speer KP. Assessment of instability of the long head of the biceps tendon by MRI. Skeletal Radiol. 2001 Apr;30(4):199–207.
Journal cover image

Published In

Skeletal Radiol

DOI

ISSN

0364-2348

Publication Date

April 2001

Volume

30

Issue

4

Start / End Page

199 / 207

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Tendons
  • Tendon Injuries
  • Shoulder
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Rotator Cuff
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging