US Findings of Biceps Tendinitis: Cross Sectional Area Measurements of Long Head of Biceps Brachii

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe typical sonographic findings in patients with biceps tendinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy five patients who had been clinically diagnosed with biceps tendinitis were included. Of the 75, 37 were male, 38 were female, and their mean age was 56 +/- 9.74. The patients complained of shoulder pain and ultrasonography was performed for bilateral shoulders in all patients. The cross sectional area of the biceps tendon was measured. The status of fluid collection around the biceps tendon and accompanying rotator cuff disease were also investigated. RESULTS: The cross sectional areas of the diseased biceps tendon were 0.18 +/- 0.09 cm2 (range 0.07-0.42), and the areas of the normal side was 0.11 +/- 0.05 cm2 (0.03-0.24). The cross sectional area of the diseased biceps tendon was 0.075 +/- 0.062 cm2 greater, on average, than the uninvolved site (p < 0.01). Thirty six patients (48%) had fluid collection around the inflamed biceps tendon, and 30 patients had accompanied rotator cuff disease. CONCLUSIONS: During US examination of the shoulder in patients complaining of shoulder pain, if the cross sectional area of the biceps tendon in the painful shoulder is asymmetrically and larger than the contralateral tendon, biceps tendonitis is suggested.