Accuracy of suprascapular notch cross-sectional area by MRI in the diagnosis of suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome: a retrospective pilot study

Abstract

Background Previous studies have demonstrated that morphological changes in the suprascapular notch are closely associated with suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome (SNES). Thus, we hypothesized that the suprascapular notch cross-sectional area (SSNCSA) could be a good diagnostic parameter to assess SNES. Methods We acquired suprascapular notch data from 10 patients with SNES and 10 healthy individuals who had undergone shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (S-MRI) and had no evidence of SNES. T2-weighted coronal magnetic resonance images were acquired from the shoulder. We analyzed the SSNCSA at the shoulder on S-MRI using our image-analysis program (INFINITT PACS). The SSNCSA was measured as the suprascapular notch, which was the most affected site in coronal S-MRI images. Results The mean SSNCSA was 64.50 ± 8.93 mm2 in the control group and 44.94 ± 10.40 mm2 in the SNES group. Patients with SNES had significantly lower SSNCSA (P < 0.01) than those in the control group. Receiver operating curve analysis showed that the best cut-off of the SSNCSA was 57.49 mm2, with 80.0% sensitivity, 80.0% specificity, and an area under the curve of 0.92 (95% CI [0.79, 1.00]). Conclusions The SSNCSA was found to have acceptable diagnostic properties for detecting SNES. We hope that these results will help diagnose SNES objectively.

Keywords

• anatomy
• diagnosis
• magnetic resonance imaging
• nerve compression syndromes
• shoulder
• syndrome