Diagnosis of rotator cuff tear on routine radiographs.

Routine shoulder radiographs were reviewed in 42 patients with proven rotator cuff tears and in 38 patients in whom a rotator cuff tear had been excluded by shoulder arthrography. Five radiographic findings were identified which were commonly associated with a rotator cuff tear. One or more of these findings were seen in 90.4% of those patients with a rotator cuff tear. These findings were not specific and were also seen in 64.3% of those patients with a frozen shoulder.