MRI findings of the shoulder and hip joint in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study is to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the shoulder and hip joint in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).


METHODS
MR images of a total of 25 PMR patients (23 shoulders and 6 hips), 43 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (22 shoulders and 22 hips), and 50 control patients (25 shoulders and 25 hips) were examined. The following MRI findings were evaluated: In the shoulder, thickness and abnormalities of the supraspinatus tendon, effusion around the glenohumeral joint, subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, and the biceps tendon; In the hip, effusion around the acetabulofemoral joint, iliopsoas bursa, and trochanteric bursa. Periarticular soft-tissue edema and bone findings were also analyzed.


RESULTS
The supraspinatus tendon was significantly thicker in PMR patients than in RA patients and control patients (p < 0.05). Severe rotator cuff tendinopathy was frequently observed in PMR patients (p = 0.002). The scores for the amount of effusions (joint, bursa, and tendon sheath in the shoulder and bursa in the hip) were much higher in PMR patients (p < 0.05). Periarticular soft tissue edema was detected more frequently in PMR patients than in RA patients and control patients (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Thick supraspinatus tendon, severe rotator cuff tendinopathy, effusion around the joints, and periarticular soft tissue edema can be good indicators for the diagnosis of PMR.
['Ochi|Junko|J|', 'Nozaki|Taiki|T|', 'Okada|Masato|M|', 'Suyama|Yasuhiro|Y|', 'Kishimoto|Mitsumasa|M|', 'Akaike|Gensuke|G|', 'Tasaki|Atsushi|A|', 'Ohde|Sachiko|S|', 'Saida|Yukihisa|Y|', 'Yoshioka|Hiroshi|H|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D005260:Female D006621:Hip Joint D006801:Humans D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica D012785:Shoulder Joint D013583:Synovial Membrane D013710:Tendons
MRI Polymyalgia rheumatica Rotator cuff tendinopathy Periarticular soft tissue edema Bursitis