MR Imaging of Rotator Cuff Pathology: The Value of T_2~*-weighted Gradient-echo

Objective To compare fat suppressed T 2 weighted turbo spin echo sequences (FS TSE T 2WI) with T 2 * weighted gradient echo sequences (T 2 *WI) in diagnosing rotator cuff pathology.Materials and Methods Fifty five consecutive patients suspected of rotator cuff disorder were enrolled in this study. Matched oblique coronal FS TSE T 2WI and T 2 *WI of each patient were retrospectively compared and analyzed, and cuff signal and morphology were evaluated. Kappa statistic analysis was used to calculate the interpretative agreement of the two sequences. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, predictive values of both positive and negative test with both sequences for rotator cuff tear were determined.Results In interpreting cuff signal and morphology, the two sequences showed a good agreement with the kappa value of 0.746. For rotator cuff tears or for complete rotator cuff tears only, the sensitivity and predictive value of a negative test of T 2 *WI were higher than that of FS TES T 2WI, although the specificity and predictive value of a positive test of T 2 *WI were low. Conclusion T 2 *WI and FS TSE T 2WI are essentially in good agreement in diagnosing rotator cuff pathology.