Biceps brachii long head tendon rupture

Case contributed by Roberto Schubert
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

The patient complained of a mass in the distal third of the medial upper arm.

Patient Data

Age: 70
Gender: Female

Retraction of the long head of the biceps brachii towards the elbow. The ruptured tendon forms a convolute at the proximal end of the muscle belly. There is also some minor hemorrhage.

Case Discussion

 A neoplasm can be excluded by following the distal biceps tendon from its insertion into the muscle belly.

Normally this should be a clinical diagnosis, but it can be missed in obese people with weak musculature. A history of trauma is rather the exception.

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