Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of MR arthrography in the assessment of superior labral anteroposterior (SLAP) lesions of the shoulder with emphasis on the classification of SLAP lesions.
Materials and methods: Two hundred sixty-five MR arthrograms including 68 MR arthrograms of patients with arthroscopically proven SLAP lesions of the shoulder and 197 MR arthrograms of patients with an intact superior labrum and biceps anchor were retrospectively reviewed in random order. MR arthrography was performed using triplanar T1-weighted spin-echo sequences and a coronal oblique T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence. MR arthrograms were evaluated by two radiologists with agreement by consensus, and the results were compared with arthroscopic findings.
Results: Of 68 SLAP lesions, seven (10%) were arthroscopically classified as type I, 41 (60%) as type II (including 20 type II lesions with coexisting Bankart lesions [29%]), 14 (21%) as type III, and six (9%) as type IV. Compared with arthroscopy as the gold standard, MR arthrography showed a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 98% for the overall detection of SLAP lesions. MR arthrographic grading and arthroscopic grading were concurrent in 45 (66%) of 68 arthroscopic diagnoses. Of the surgically confirmed SLAP lesions, involvement of the biceps insertion and SLAP type II lesions with coexisting Bankart lesions were assessed correctly in 75% and 95% of cases, respectively.
Conclusion: MR arthrography is a highly effective method for the detection of SLAP lesions, but this technique is limited in the classification of different types of SLAP lesions. However, for preoperative planning MR arthrography provides accurate information about the stability of the biceps insertion and the presence of associated anteroinferior labral injuries.