A pictorial essay of normal and abnormal appearances of the supraspinatus tendon is
presented. An increased signal intensity within the supraspinatus tendon on short
TE sequences is not necessarily abnormal. Increased signal seen within the tendon
on modern magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) units is often due to a phenomenon known
as the “magic angle” effect. Only when supraspinatus tendon signal intensity is greater
than that of muscle on long TE (T2) sequences should it be considered to be abnormal.
The physical basis for the magic angle effect is outlined and a pictorial essay demonstrating
the practical implications of this effect is presented. A comparison is made to signal
intensity changes seen with partial and complete tears of the supraspinatus tendon.
Correlation is made with important morphologic features of partial or complete tears.
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Article info
Publication history
Austral Radiol 1998;42:106–113
Identification
Copyright
© 1998 Published by Elsevier Inc.
