Important bony structures include the humeral head, scapula, and acromioclavicular joint. The general public often thinks of rotator cuff tears as season or career ending injuries suffered by major league pitchers. However, this condition is considerably more common in the older population. Rotator cuff tears almost always begin in the supraspinatus tendon, although extension into the other tendons of the cuff can also be seen. On MRI, rotator cuff tears appear as areas of increased signal in the tendon.
Tears can be full thickness or partial.
In full thickness tears, the muscle can pull away from the joint because the tendon no longer anchors it to the humerus. MRI also reveals the extent of impingement on the rotator cuff from the acromioclavicular joint, findings that are important to note when surgical repair is being considered. Steven H. Brick, M.D. Drs.