Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging for subscapularis tendon tear comparison with arthroscopy

Background: This study was conducted with the aim of determining the diagnostic accuracy of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan before surgery in evaluating the tear of the subscapularis tendon in comparison with the actual results obtained from arthroscopy. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on medical records of 85 patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopic surgery suspected to subscapularis tendon tears which referred to the Besat Hospital (Hamadan, Iran) during 2012–2013. In the present study, the MRI was considered as a screening method and arthroscopy results were considered as the gold standard, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were computed for MRI compared arthroscopy. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of MRI for the identification of incomplete tear were 28.57%, 100%, 100% and 63.77%, respectively, whereas had perfect sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value for detecting complete tear. In overall, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of MRI for detecting all types of ruptures were 39.02%, 100%, 100% and 63.77%, respectively. Conclusion: According to this study, MR images are a highly specific method with high positive and negative predictive values for the diagnosis of complete subscapularis tendon tear. However, the sensitivity for the incomplete tear of subscapularis tendon is not such high.