Giuffrè and Moss described an MRI position for the distal biceps, the flexed abducted supinated (FABS) view, meant to show the whole tendon along its length.
Technical report of 22 symptomatic elbows in 21 patients (mean age 52) imaged from 2001 to 2003, plus 6 healthy male volunteers, read by two radiologists.
Key Findings
In all 22 symptomatic elbows, the FABS view showed the whole tendon, from musculotendinous junction to insertion, in one or at most two sections.
Conventional sagittal images showed the whole tendon in one or two sections in only 8 of the 13 elbows that had both.
In 6 volunteers, FABS showed the full tendon in one section in 4 and in two sections in 2. Sagittal imaging did so in one section in only 2.
Flexion pulls the tendon taut and supination turns the tuberosity medially, so the tendon runs almost straight to its insertion. Elbow position near the magnet center also improves fat suppression.
Of the 22 elbows, 3 were normal, 14 had a partial tear or tendinosis, 4 had a complete tear and 1 had an intact repair. The paper reports no surgical reference standard for these readings.
Authors' conclusion
the flexed abducted supi-nated view provides a reproducible technique for MRI of the distal biceps brachii tendon, ob-taining a longitudinal image of the tendon from the musculotendinous junction to its in-sertion, often in one section.
Giuffrè and Moss described an MRI position for the distal biceps, the flexed abducted supinated (FABS) view, meant to show the whole tendon along its length.
Technical report of 22 symptomatic elbows in 21 patients (mean age 52) imaged from 2001 to 2003, plus 6 healthy male volunteers, read by two radiologists.
Key Findings
In all 22 symptomatic elbows, the FABS view showed the whole tendon, from musculotendinous junction to insertion, in one or at most two sections.
Conventional sagittal images showed the whole tendon in one or two sections in only 8 of the 13 elbows that had both.
In 6 volunteers, FABS showed the full tendon in one section in 4 and in two sections in 2. Sagittal imaging did so in one section in only 2.
Flexion pulls the tendon taut and supination turns the tuberosity medially, so the tendon runs almost straight to its insertion. Elbow position near the magnet center also improves fat suppression.
Of the 22 elbows, 3 were normal, 14 had a partial tear or tendinosis, 4 had a complete tear and 1 had an intact repair. The paper reports no surgical reference standard for these readings.
Authors' conclusion
the flexed abducted supi-nated view provides a reproducible technique for MRI of the distal biceps brachii tendon, ob-taining a longitudinal image of the tendon from the musculotendinous junction to its in-sertion, often in one section.