IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 16, Issue 9 Ver. VIII (Sep. 2017), PP 65-71 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-1609086571 www.iosrjournals.org 65 | Page Diagnostic value of Sonography and MR Imaging in rotator cuff for patients with shoulder pain Elfadil Faroug Abdelal Elnour 1 , Elsafi Ahmed Abdalla 1 ,Bushra A.Malik 2 ,*Caroline Edward Ayad 1 1 (Sudan University of Science and Technology, College of medical Radiological Science ,Khartoum –Sudan P.O.Box 1908) 2 (Hail University –Saudia Arabia) Corresponding author: * Caroline Edward Ayad Abstract: Introduction: Ultrasonography(US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are both capable of diagnosing rotator cuff pathology. Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic value of US and MRI in the detection of rotator cuff tears for patients with shoulder pain. Materials and methods: 87 patients with clinically suspected to have rotator cuff pathology underwent both US and MRI .The standard protocols of shoulder examinations were obtained. Sensitivity and accuracy of each modality have been evaluated and the correlation between the results of both imaging methods was deliberated using MRI as reference. The study included both genders, their mean age was 49.40± 12.4.The study spanned during the period from 2014-2017 Results: showed no significant difference in the diagnostic results of US and MRI. Sensitivity, and accuracy of the imaging methods were found to be: for Supra spinatous tendon partial tear ( 91%,91.6%)and(91%,92.8%) for US and MRI in respectively. Sensitivity and accuracy in diagnosis of Supra spinatous tendon full thickness tear were equal in both methods (100%, 100%) while Subscapularis tendon partial tear were (40%, 96.4%) and (100%, 96.1%) and Infa spinatous tendon partial tear (42%,95.4%) and (100%, 95.2%). The other non rotator cuff findings were found to have sensitivity ranged between (48%-100 %) and (29-92%) and accuracy ranged between (81.8% -98%) and (82.6-99%) for US and MRI in respectively Conclusions Regarding the comparable results; US proved to have high sensitivity and accuracy for full thickness tears with relatively less sensitivity in detection of partial thickness tear. Ultrasonography may be the suitable imaging method for diagnosis the rotator cuff tears when the examiner has been well trained and we recommended to be used as the first line imaging modality in evaluation of shoulder pain as it is sensitive , accurate, cheap and available, as well; for practitioners without ultrasound expertise, MRI can be used. Keywords - Ultrasonography, MRI ,Rotator cuff tear I. INTRODUCTION Rotator cuff disease is the most common cause of shoulder pain, Rotator cuff tears are a significant cause of morbidity and a financial burden to the health care system. These tears require good assessment and management. Clinical examination alone provides limited information, making imaging being as an essential component of decision making. [1,2].The identification of a rotator cuff for full or partial thickness tear, can determine whether the patient will be managed conservatively or will need surgical treatment [3, 4]. Diagnostic imaging with, sonography, or MR is an important part of the evaluation of patients with shoulder pain and suspected rotator cuff disease. These imaging techniques have many strengths and weaknesses, and their accuracies and roles in the diagnostic evaluation of rotator cuff disease should be examined. Sonography is noninvasive and has a reported accuracy of 87-94% .[5,6] Several publications have proven the diagnostic value of sonography of the rotator cuff [7,8], but the initial good results have not been confirmed by some studies [9]. sonography is an operator-dependent technique that does not allow visualization of the entire extent of the rotator cuff. On the other hand MR imaging provides direct visualization of the entire cuff, and one early study reported an accuracy of 84% [10]. In addition MRI can depict early changes in rotator cuff impingement, not visible by sonography [11] as well MRI is less operator dependent. [12] The major disadvantages of MR imaging are the long examination time and expensive. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports of symptomatic shoulder findings studied at both ultrasound and MRI examinations including rotator cuff partial and full thickness tear and non rotator cuff related pathologies done for Sudanese because referring for ultrasound scanning of shoulder is of least application in our practice in Sudan. Therefore the purposes of this study were to highlight the spectrum