Presentation
Shoulder pain. No prior trauma.
Patient Data
Age: 50 years
Gender: Female
From the case:
Calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff
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Multiple calcific deposits, max 7 mm in length, are visible within the tendons of the subscapularis, supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles, in keeping with calcific tendinitis. Supraspinatus calcifications protrude into the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, without signs of bursitis.
Degenerative changes in the acromioclavicular joint, with some compression of the supraspinatus tendon.
Case Discussion
The accuracy of MRI in detecting calcifications, especially small-sized, is limited. T2* gradient-echo sequence enhances their visibility, as calcific deposits produce signal drop/blooming on these images.