Rupture of the distal biceps tendon: evaluation with MR imaging.

PURPOSE

To assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of distal biceps tendon ruptures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MR images of the elbow in 20 patients with suspected distal biceps injury were retrospectively reviewed along with those of eight asymptomatic volunteers. Surgical confirmation was obtained in nine cases.

RESULTS

MR imaging helped diagnose 10 complete ruptures with depiction of the absence of the tendon distally (n = 10), a fluid-filled tendon sheath (n = 9), an antecubital fossa mass (n = 3), muscle edema (n = 3), and atrophy (n = 2). Six partial tears were depicted with high signal intensity within the tendon (n = 6), fluid in the biceps tendon sheath (n = 6), and thinning (n = 3) or thickening (n = 3) of the distal tendon. Of the remaining patients, one each had tendinosis, tenosynovitis, a biceps hematoma, and a brachialis contusion.

CONCLUSION

MR imaging helped confirm distal biceps tendon ruptures because it distinguished complete from partial ruptures and other entities that may mimic ruptures.