Rotator cuff abnormalities incredibly common but rarely pathology: JAMA study
The study authors suggest that clinicians should use softer terms when discussing imaging to discourage unnecessary treatments.
Almost all patients who undergo bilateral shoulder MRI have rotator cuff abnormalities, which likely represent normal ageing rather than pathology, a JAMA study suggests.
The findings “call into question the clinical value of routine imaging for atraumatic shoulder pain”, the University of Helsinki researchers say, based on their study of 602 adults aged 41-76.
Abnormalities were present in 98% of shoulders with symptoms, defined as pain or dysfunction in the preceding week, and 96% of asymptomatic shoulders.
After adjusting for other factors, including structural abnormalities, the prevalence of tendinopathy, partial-thickness tears and full-thickness tears did not differ between the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups.
