Simeone F Joseph, Bredella Miriam A, Chang Connie Y, Torriani Martin, Huang Ambrose J
Department of Radiology, Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Yawkey 6E, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Skeletal Radiol. 2015 Nov;44(11):1663-9. doi: 10.1007/s00256-015-2209-2. Epub 2015 Jul 26.
The superior transverse scapular ligament (STSL) forms the roof of the suprascapular notch, which is the most common location of entrapment of the suprascapular nerve, a cause of shoulder pain and weakness. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of visualization of the STSL on routine shoulder MRIs, to identify the sequences and imaging planes on which it is visualized most frequently, and to describe its typical MRI appearance, none of which have been previously addressed in the radiologic literature.
One hundred twenty-one consecutive shoulder MRIs were reviewed for the presence or absence of the STSL, including the imaging plane and sequence that best depicted the ligament. Dimensions of the ligament were recorded.
Fifty four of 121 shoulder MRIs were technically adequate for visualization of the STSL, and it was identified on 51 of these studies (94%). There was no statistically significant difference between 1.5-T and 3-T systems. The best individual sequence for visualizing the STSL was the sagittal T1-weighted sequence, in which the STSL was visible on 75/80 technically adequate sequences (94%). The sagittal plane was the best plane for visualizing the STSL, in which it was visible on 65/69 technically adequate studies (94%). The STSL on average measured 12.8 ± 1.5 mm in transverse dimension.
The STSL can be visualized on the majority of shoulder MRIs and is best seen on sagittal T1-weighted images on our imaging protocol. Evaluation of the STSL can potentially help in identifying pathologic conditions affecting the suprascapular nerve.
肩胛上横韧带（STSL）形成肩胛上切迹的顶部，肩胛上切迹是肩胛上神经卡压最常见的部位，可导致肩部疼痛和无力。本研究的目的是确定在常规肩部MRI上STSL的显示频率，识别其最常显示的序列和成像平面，并描述其典型的MRI表现，而放射学文献中此前均未涉及这些内容。
回顾了121例连续的肩部MRI，观察是否存在STSL，包括最能显示该韧带的成像平面和序列。记录韧带的尺寸。
121例肩部MRI中有54例在技术上足以显示STSL，其中51例（94%）显示出该韧带。1.5-T和3-T系统之间无统计学显著差异。显示STSL的最佳单一序列是矢状位T1加权序列，在80例技术上合适的序列中有75例（94%）能看到STSL。矢状面是显示STSL的最佳平面，在69例技术上合适的研究中有65例（94%）能看到。STSL的横向平均尺寸为12.8±1.5mm。
在大多数肩部MRI上可以显示STSL，在我们的成像方案中，矢状位T1加权图像上显示最佳。对STSL的评估可能有助于识别影响肩胛上神经的病理状况。
