It is important to have an accurate differential diagnosis to rule out other pathologies such as rotator cuff tear, bicipital tendinitis, subacromial and
subdeltoid bursitis and thoracic outlet syndrome.
Additionally, patients with PMR were more likely to have abnormal ultrasound findings in their shoulders (especially
subdeltoid bursitis and biceps tenosynovitis), and hips (synovitis and/or trochanteric bursitis).
MRI appearances of multiple rice body formation in chronic subacromial and
subdeltoid bursitis, in association with synovial chondromatosis.
Comparative efficacy and safety of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs nimesulide and diclofenac in patients with acute
subdeltoid bursitis and bicipital tendinitis.
Sensitivity and specificity values for subacromial,
subdeltoid bursitis was 25% and 86.36%, PPV of 70%, NPV of 47.5%, accuracy of 52%, p value of spearman correlation 0.119, nonsignificant and Kappa coefficient was 0.104 suggesting a slight association.
One patient had subacromial
subdeltoid bursitis in both ultrasound and MRI without any rotator cuff pathology.