Subscapularis Muscle - Imaging

Imaging

Although the subscapularis is the major and most powerful muscle of the rotator cuff and has an enormous meaning in the gleno-humeral stability and dynamic it is neglected in the clinical literature. Despite its importance and impact on conservative or surgical treatment, operative planning and approach or post-surgical prognosis. Lo and Burkhart even tagged the subscapularis tendon hypercritically as the „forgotten tendon“. That arises by the gap of the described tear prevalence in cadavers between 29 and 37% and in clinical studies around 27%. This is likely related to the difficulties in radiological, arthroscopic and even open surgical assessment of this particular muscle and its tendon, especially for inferior tears. For example can even full-thickness tears be mimicked by intact tendon fibers or overlying scars attached to the greater tuberosity. Since the strong stabilizing effect of the coraco-humeral ligament a possible muscle retraction can be expeditiously underestimated. Scar tissue can be adulterant for MR Arthrographic images, as it may prevent leakage of contrast material.
There is no singularly imaging device or technique for a satisfying and complete subscapularis examination, but rather the combination of the sagittal oblique MRI / short-axis US and axial MRI / long-axis US planes seems to generate useful results. Additionally lesser tuberosity bony changes have been associated with subscapularis tendon tears. Findings with cysts seem to be more specific and combined findings with cortical irregularities more sensitive.

Another fact typically for the subscapularis muscle is the fatty infiltration of the superior portions, while sparing the inferior portions.

Since the long biceps tendon absents itself from the shoulder joint through the rotator cuff interval it is easily possible to distinguish between the supraspinatus and the subscapularis tendon. Those two tendons build the interval sling.