ShoulderTumors masked as frozen shoulders: A retrospective analysis
Section snippets
Materials and methods
The approval of the institutional ethical committee was obtained for the research protocol of the current study. In the outpatient clinic system at the authors' institute, shoulder tumor patients are examined initially either at the tumor or the shoulder service. Those who had been diagnosed with tumors around the shoulder were referred to the tumor service for further examination and treatment. In contrast, patients without a diagnosis of a tumor were usually referred to the shoulder service
Results
Among 34 malignant shoulder tumor patients from the tumor service, 9 (26%) had been initially diagnosed with frozen shoulder syndrome instead of musculoskeletal tumors in the previous clinics. The incidence of the initial misdiagnosis with frozen shoulder syndrome among the patients with malignant shoulder tumors was 26% in the current series. The primary symptoms in all 9 patients were shoulder pain. None of the patients complained of a tumor mass at the time of onset of their symptoms. They
Discussion
In the diagnosis of musculoskeletal tumors of the shoulder, the first challenge for physicians is to think of the possibility of tumors.6 To enter into this mind-set, it is necessary for them to know the demographic data of shoulder tumors and frozen shoulder symptoms.
The results of the current study indicated that 26% of malignant shoulder tumors were initially misdiagnosed with frozen shoulder syndrome. In the literature, Robinson et al. reviewed 67 shoulder tumor cases and found that 7 cases
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Mr. Francisco J.D. MacArthur and Mr. Mark S. Gurecki for editing the present paper.
Disclaimer
The authors, their immediate families, and any research foundations with which they are affiliated have not received any financial payments or other benefits from any commercial entity related to the subject of this article.
References (12)
- et al.
Shoulder girdle neoplasms mimicking frozen shoulder syndrome
J Shoulder Elbow Surg
(2003) - et al.
Extra-abdominal desmoid around the shoulder joint: One of the differential diagnoses of frozen shoulder
J Shoulder Elbow Surg
(2004) - et al.
Some tumors about the shoulder joint with early manifestations simulating frozen shoulder
J Philipp Med Assoc
(1963) - et al.
Primary chest wall tumor appearing as frozen shoulder. Review and case presentations
J Rheumatol
(1991) Shoulder pain as a presenting complaint in upper lobe bronchogenic cartinoma: Report of 21 cases
Connecticut Med
(1966)- et al.
The stiff shoulder
Cited by (17)
Arthroscopic treatment of intra-articular osteoid osteoma in the bicipital groove. A case report
2022, International Journal of Surgery Case ReportsCitation Excerpt :Rare presence of intra-articular OO and non-specific symptoms may mimic other, more common articular pathologies. In example, osteoid osteoma in the shoulder joint may be misdiagnosed as rotator cuff tear, biceps longus tear or shoulder stiffness syndrome (frozen shoulder), which make the osteoid osteoma diagnosis challenging [3,4]. Patients with intra-articular or close shoulder joint osteoma often lack typical radiographic features, like perifocal sclerosis, and commonly need tomography imaging to diagnose and accurately assess lesion localization for determining the correct surgical approach [5].
Diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis: Comparison of contrast-enhanced MRI with noncontrast-enhanced MRI
2015, Clinical ImagingCitation Excerpt :The diagnosis of AC is based on clinical presentation, medical history, and physical examination. Other conditions, including those with atypical clinical manifestations [2,3], may mimic AC clinically; thus, imaging plays an important role in the detection and diagnosis of this disease. Among the various imaging modalities, arthrography is the method of choice in the diagnosis of AC [4].
Glenohumeral joint tuberculosis that mimics frozen shoulder: A retrospective analysis
2012, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow SurgeryCitation Excerpt :Frozen shoulder is a common clinical entity, defined as “a condition of uncertain etiology characterized by significant restriction of both active and passive shoulder motion that occurs in the absence of a known intrinsic shoulder disorder.”15 Moreover, a number of diseases, including rotator cuff tears, calcifying tendonitis, osteoarthritis, cervical disk disease, myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, and tumors, can also cause secondary frozen shoulder.10 However, frozen shoulder can be confused with other causes of shoulder pain and stiffness, and this diagnosis has been overused in patients with shoulder pain and restriction of range of motion in China, especially in primary care clinics.
Frozen Shoulder
2011, Neck and Arm Pain Syndromes: Evidence-informed Screening, Diagnosis and ManagementFrozen shoulder
2011, Neck and Arm Pain SyndromesFollicular lymphoma: an unexpected cause of adhesive capsulitis
2024, Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
The approval by the Ethical Committee of Tohoku University was obtained for the current study (The Study number: 2007-128, Date of approval: July 23, 2007).