OBJECTIVE: The anterior acromion may appear to slope downward in a lateral direction on coronal-oblique magnetic resonance (MR) images of the shoulder. We sought to determine the significance of this finding as a marker of rotator cuff impingement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: MR studies of 58 subjects (26 with impingement, 32 with glenohumeral instability) were retrospectively analysed. Subjective down-sloping of the acromion was compared to standardized acromial measurements made on MR (acromial axis, width of the anterior acromion, and distance of the acromioclavicular joint from the superior glenoid) and clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: Interobserver variance for lateral down-sloping was fair (kappa = 0.5). One reader's assessment of lateral down-sloping of the acromion correlated with standardized MR measurements. Subjective lateral down-sloping of the acromion did not, however, correlate with impingement. CONCLUSION: The subjective finding of a laterally down-sloping acromion on coronal-oblique MR images, while partially validated by standardized measurements, is not predictive of impingement syndrome.
OBJECTIVE: The anterior acromion may appear to slope downward in a lateral direction on coronal-oblique magnetic resonance (MR) images of the shoulder. We sought to determine the significance of this finding as a marker of rotator cuff impingement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: MR studies of 58 subjects (26 with impingement, 32 with glenohumeral instability) were retrospectively analysed. Subjective down-sloping of the acromion was compared to standardized acromial measurements made on MR (acromial axis, width of the anterior acromion, and distance of the acromioclavicular joint from the superior glenoid) and clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: Interobserver variance for lateral down-sloping was fair (kappa = 0.5). One reader's assessment of lateral down-sloping of the acromion correlated with standardized MR measurements. Subjective lateral down-sloping of the acromion did not, however, correlate with impingement. CONCLUSION: The subjective finding of a laterally down-sloping acromion on coronal-oblique MR images, while partially validated by standardized measurements, is not predictive of impingement syndrome.
Authors: André Vaz; Camila Pietroski Reifegerste; Cesar Rodrigo Trippia; Lucas Savaris Linhares; Fábio Bordin Trindade; José Eduardo Thomaz Journal: Radiol Bras Date: 2020 Nov-Dec