MRI VERSUS CT-ARTHROGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF GLENOHUMERAL INSTABILITIES

In a prospective study the diagnostic value of MRI compared to CT-arthrography [CT-A] was evaluated in 26 patients with 27 instable shoulder joints. Surgical and/or arthroscopic correlation was available in all cases. Both methods showed a high accuracy [96 % CT-A, 94 % MRI] in the evaluation of the glenoid labrum. CT-A was significantly superior to MRI in the detection of capsular lesions [sensitivity 96 % vs. 44 %, accuracy 96 % vs. 72 %, negative predictive value 96 % vs. 67 %]. CT-A and MRI results regarding humeral head fractures were similar; fractures of the glenoid rim were better detected by CT-A, the difference, however, was statistically not significant. Overall, CT-A proved to be superior to MRI, as lesions of the joint capsule were shown with greater certainty .