Difficult for surgeon to see tendinopathy; usually diagnose synovitis in BT sheath
Degenerative tendinopathy
Often asymptomatic
May also have lipoid change within tendon
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Burke CJ et al: MRI, arthroscopic and histopathologic cross correlation in biceps tenodesis specimens with emphasis on the normal appearing proximal tendon. Clin Imaging. 54:126-32, 2019
Tadros AS et al: Long head of the biceps brachii tendon: unenhanced MRI versus direct MR arthrography. Skeletal Radiol. 44(9):1263-72, 2015
Seo JB et al: Sonoelastography findings of biceps tendinitis and tendinosis. J Ultrasound. 17(4):271-7, 2014
Buck FM et al: Degeneration of the long biceps tendon: comparison of MRI with gross anatomy and histology. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 193(5):1367-75, 2009
Gaskin CM et al: Focal partial tears of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon at the entrance to the bicipital groove: MR imaging findings, surgical correlation, and clinical significance. Skeletal Radiol. 38(10):959-65, 2009
Gaskin CM et al: Anomalies of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon: clinical significance, MR arthrographic findings, and arthroscopic correlation in two patients. Skeletal Radiol. 36(8):785-9, 2007
Lin A et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of the long head of the biceps tendon: benefit of coplanar image. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 31(4):642-8, 2007
Morag Y et al: MR arthrography of rotator interval, long head of the biceps brachii, and biceps pulley of the shoulder. Radiology. 235(1):21-30, 2005
Beall DP et al: Association of biceps tendon tears with rotator cuff abnormalities: degree of correlation with tears of the anterior and superior portions of the rotator cuff. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 180(3):633-9, 2003
Beltran J et al: Shoulder: labrum and bicipital tendon. Top Magn Reson Imaging. 14(1):35-49, 2003
Martinoli C et al: US of the shoulder: non-rotator cuff disorders. Radiographics. 23(2):381-401; quiz 534, 2003
Spritzer CE et al: Assessment of instability of the long head of the biceps tendon by MRI. Skeletal Radiol. 30(4):199-207, 2001
De Maeseneer M et al: CT and MR arthrography of the normal and pathologic anterosuperior labrum and labral-bicipital complex. Radiographics. 20 Spec No:S67-81, 2000
Ho CP: MR imaging of rotator interval, long biceps, and associated injuries in the overhead-throwing athlete. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 7(1):23-37, 1999
Weishaupt D et al: Lesions of the reflection pulley of the long biceps tendon. MR arthrographic findings. Invest Radiol. 34(7):463-9, 1999
Yeh L et al: Intracapsular origin of the long head of the biceps tendon. Skeletal Radiol. 28(3):178-81, 1999
Gückel C et al: MR arthrographic findings in tenosynovitis of the long bicipital tendon of the shoulder. Skeletal Radiol. 27(1):7-12, 1998
Kreitner KF et al: Superior labrum and labral-bicipital complex: MR imaging with pathologic-anatomic and histologic correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 170(3):599-605, 1998
Zanetti M et al: Tendinopathy and rupture of the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii muscle: evaluation with MR arthrography. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 170(6):1557-61, 1998
Nidecker A et al: Imaging the long head of biceps tendon--a pictorial essay emphasizing magnetic resonance. Eur J Radiol. 25(3):177-87, 1997
Tuckman GA: Abnormalities of the long head of the biceps tendon of the shoulder: MR imaging findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 163(5):1183-8, 1994
van Leersum M et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of the biceps complex. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 1(1):77-86, 1993
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Biceps tendon (BT)
Synonyms
Long head biceps tendinosis or tendonitis
Definitions
Mucoid change, microscopic tears within BT
2 types appear similar on MR
Painful tendinopathy
Usually associated with tenosynovitis
Difficult for surgeon to see tendinopathy; usually diagnose synovitis in BT sheath
Degenerative tendinopathy
Often asymptomatic
May also have lipoid change within tendon
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Burke CJ et al: MRI, arthroscopic and histopathologic cross correlation in biceps tenodesis specimens with emphasis on the normal appearing proximal tendon. Clin Imaging. 54:126-32, 2019
Tadros AS et al: Long head of the biceps brachii tendon: unenhanced MRI versus direct MR arthrography. Skeletal Radiol. 44(9):1263-72, 2015
Seo JB et al: Sonoelastography findings of biceps tendinitis and tendinosis. J Ultrasound. 17(4):271-7, 2014
Buck FM et al: Degeneration of the long biceps tendon: comparison of MRI with gross anatomy and histology. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 193(5):1367-75, 2009
Gaskin CM et al: Focal partial tears of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon at the entrance to the bicipital groove: MR imaging findings, surgical correlation, and clinical significance. Skeletal Radiol. 38(10):959-65, 2009
Gaskin CM et al: Anomalies of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon: clinical significance, MR arthrographic findings, and arthroscopic correlation in two patients. Skeletal Radiol. 36(8):785-9, 2007
Lin A et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of the long head of the biceps tendon: benefit of coplanar image. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 31(4):642-8, 2007
Morag Y et al: MR arthrography of rotator interval, long head of the biceps brachii, and biceps pulley of the shoulder. Radiology. 235(1):21-30, 2005
Beall DP et al: Association of biceps tendon tears with rotator cuff abnormalities: degree of correlation with tears of the anterior and superior portions of the rotator cuff. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 180(3):633-9, 2003
Beltran J et al: Shoulder: labrum and bicipital tendon. Top Magn Reson Imaging. 14(1):35-49, 2003
Martinoli C et al: US of the shoulder: non-rotator cuff disorders. Radiographics. 23(2):381-401; quiz 534, 2003
Spritzer CE et al: Assessment of instability of the long head of the biceps tendon by MRI. Skeletal Radiol. 30(4):199-207, 2001
De Maeseneer M et al: CT and MR arthrography of the normal and pathologic anterosuperior labrum and labral-bicipital complex. Radiographics. 20 Spec No:S67-81, 2000
Ho CP: MR imaging of rotator interval, long biceps, and associated injuries in the overhead-throwing athlete. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 7(1):23-37, 1999
Weishaupt D et al: Lesions of the reflection pulley of the long biceps tendon. MR arthrographic findings. Invest Radiol. 34(7):463-9, 1999
Yeh L et al: Intracapsular origin of the long head of the biceps tendon. Skeletal Radiol. 28(3):178-81, 1999
Gückel C et al: MR arthrographic findings in tenosynovitis of the long bicipital tendon of the shoulder. Skeletal Radiol. 27(1):7-12, 1998
Kreitner KF et al: Superior labrum and labral-bicipital complex: MR imaging with pathologic-anatomic and histologic correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 170(3):599-605, 1998
Zanetti M et al: Tendinopathy and rupture of the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii muscle: evaluation with MR arthrography. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 170(6):1557-61, 1998
Nidecker A et al: Imaging the long head of biceps tendon--a pictorial essay emphasizing magnetic resonance. Eur J Radiol. 25(3):177-87, 1997
Tuckman GA: Abnormalities of the long head of the biceps tendon of the shoulder: MR imaging findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 163(5):1183-8, 1994
van Leersum M et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of the biceps complex. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 1(1):77-86, 1993
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