Consistency of rotator-cuff calcifications. Observations on plain radiography, sonography, computed tomography, and at needle treatment.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The author analyzes findings of consistency of rotator-cuff calcifications found at ultrasound (US)-guided needle treatment compared with findings of plain radiography, US, and computed tomography (CT).

METHODS: Twenty patients had rotator-cuff calcifications (mean diameter, 1.5 cm; range, 1.1-2.6 cm) resistant to conservative therapy. At needle treatments, the consistency was assessed as hard or soft (slurry calcific deposit). In each imaging examination, the calcifications were divided into two groups. In radiographs, calcifications were divided into "well-defined" and "ill-defined." In US, they were divided into calcifications with acoustic shadow and calcifications with a faint shadow or no shadow. On CT, they were divided into homogeneous or nonhomogeneous calcifications. At CT, the density of the calcifications also was determined. The findings of consistency obtained at needle treatments were compared with the findings of plain radiography, US, and CT.

RESULTS: At needle treatments, 45% (9 of 20) of the calcifications were soft or nearly liquid, and 55% (11 of 20) were hard. On plain radiographs, 67% (6 of 9) were as soft and 64% (7 of 11) as hard. On sonograms, 77% (7 of 9) were soft and 82% (9 of 11) were hard. On CT images, 77% (7 of 9) were soft and 91% (10 of 11) were hard; CT attenuation values were 77% (7 of 9) and 91% (10 of 11), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound and CT were reliable in predicting the consistency of rotator-cuff calcifications. Computed tomography attenuation values were the most accurate, and plain radiographs were the least accurate.