To determine the role of ultrasonography as a primary imaging modality as compared to MRI in patients with shoulder pain.

Abstract

Prevalence of shoulder pain in general population worldwide ranges from 16 -26%. It is necessary to evaluate different causative factors in shoulder pain and explore the utility of ultrasonography in rotator cuff and non-rotator cuff diseases as a primary imaging modality and reserve MRI for unequivocal cases. To evaluate patients with shoulder pain using ultrasound as first line of imaging modality compared to MRI. A Prospective Cross-sectional Descriptive and Analytical study was done in patients with shoulder pain referred to radiology department for USG and MRI. Analysis was performed using STATA (14.2). Descriptive statistics was used to portray baseline profile of study population. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and Kappa value used. In the resent study the maximum patients were between 40-59 years with Male: Female ratio of 3.5:1. Trauma was the most common etiological factor and restricted range of motion was seen in 47 (94%). Supraspinatus tendon was the most common tendon to show abnormality followed by Subscapularis. For Supraspinatus tendon and Subscapularis tendon partial thickness tear- USG had a sensitivity of 90.62% and 100%, specificity of 88.88% and 95.74%, PPV of 93.5% and 60.00% and NPV of 84.21% and 100% respectively. Ultrasound although being operator dependent and not as accurate as MRI, provides rapid real time non-invasive cross-sectional imaging of joint and thus can be considered as primary modality for imaging rotator cuff pathologies, as it is readily available and cost effective.