Ultrasonographic diagnostic criteria of shoulder abnormalities
| Shoulder abnormality | Diagnostic criteria |
|---|---|
| Biceps sheath effusion | Thickness of the hypoechoic halo of fluid surrounding the biceps tendon greater than 2 mm |
| Biceps tendinitis | Increased fluid within the synovial sheath and tendon hypoechogenicity and/or thickening |
| Biceps tendon rupture | Partial or complete interruption of the tendon fibres, separation of the ends and hypoechoic fluid filling the defect |
| Biceps tendon subluxation | Empty bicipital groove and identification of the displaced tendon |
| Biceps tendon degeneration | Tendon hypoechogenicity and tendon thinning |
| Rotator cuff tendinitis | Tendon hypoechogenicity or tendon thickening with or without internal hypo or hyperechoic foci |
| Subscapularis full thickness tear | Non-visualisation of tendon or complete fibres discontinuity |
| Subscapularis partial thickness tear | Partial fibre discontinuity |
| Supraspinatus and infraspinatus full thickness tear | Non-visualisation of tendon or fibre discontinuity from the humeral head to the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa or superior convexity instead of concavity |
| Supraspinatus and infraspinatus partial thickness tear | Hypoechoic fibre discontinuity involving the bursal or articular surface or intrasubstance hypoechoic defect or focal tendon thinning |
| Subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis | Hypoechoic fluid filled bursa greater than 2 mm thick |
| Acromioclavicular degenerative changes | Cortical irregularities or osteophytes, usually acompanied by intra-articular hypoechoic fluid displacing joint capsule |
| Glenohumeral effusion | Distance from the posterior labrum to the posterior infraspinatus tendon greater than 2 mm |
| Rotator cuff calcifications | Hyperreflective foci or lines with acoustic shadowing |
| Rotator cuff impingement | A buckling of the cuff/rippling effect as the cuff passes beneath the coracoacromial arch or fluid distending the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa or thickened bursa in front of the acromion while the arm is abducted |