The Accuracy of Sonoelastography in a Fatty Degeneration of Supraspinatus: A Comparison with Magnetic Resonance Images through Quantitative Assessment / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the standard of reference, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of sonoelastography (SE) for assessment of fatty degeneration of suprasupinatus (SSP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 131 shoulders of 126 consecutive patients who underwent shoulder MRI, and SE. Oblique sagittal images of SSP were obtained using SE; the SE images were evaluated by two orthopedic surgeons using a 256 degree color map image. RESULTS: When the supraspinatus fatty degenerations were based on MRI findings, the sensitivity of SE was 89.47%, specificity 92.85%, and accuracy 91.60%. The interobserver reliability of the SE findings was 'almost perfect agreement' with a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.81. By comparison of MRI with the SE findings, the grades of MRI and SE showed positive correlation (r=0.85, p< or =0.001). In addition, the occupation ratio and blue region area ratio also showed positive correlation (r=0.69, p< or =0.001). CONCLUSION: SE is valuable in quantitative assessment of the severity of fatty atrophy of the supraspinatus and has excellent accuracy, excellent correlation with MRI and conventional ultrasonography, and excellent interobserver reliability.