Analysis of the incidence of false-negative results for SLAP lesions on magnetic resonance imaging

TL;DR

This study found that MRI often misses SLAP lesions in the shoulder, suggesting arthroscopy is more reliable for diagnosis.

Contribution

The study quantifies the high false-negative rate of MRI for SLAP lesions, emphasizing the need for alternative diagnostic methods.

Findings

MRI had a false-negative rate of 83% for diagnosing SLAP lesions.

Arthroscopy is more effective than MRI for diagnosing SLAP-type lesions.

Abstract

To evaluate the false-negative rate in the diagnosis of superior labrum
anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions on unenhanced 1.5-T magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI).

This was a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 24 patients who
regularly engaged in physical activity and underwent surgery for
reconstruction of the rotator cuff or for glenohumeral instability,
comparing the result of the MRI examination with the intraoperative
findings.

Eighteen patients (75%) were male and six (25%) were female. False-negative
results for SLAP lesions were observed in 83% of the MRI examinations.

For SLAP-type lesions, MRI has low diagnostic sensitivity. Arthroscopy
appears to be the most efficient tool for the diagnosis of such lesions.

Figures