PMC4891589_01
Young adult man with closed biceps muscle injury. Axial T2 FSE with fat suppression MR image through the distal arm shows high signal and discontinuity of muscle fibers in both heads of the biceps brachii muscle. There is extensive edema in the surrounding soft tissues. [Powerpoint Slide]
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The MRI demonstrated a complete tear of both heads of the biceps brachii muscle through the mid-portion of the muscle belly (Fig. 1A). This cleft was filled with high signal material on T2-weighted images, consistent with hematoma and edema. The margins of the cleft were sharply defined and perpendicular to the long axis of the muscle, representing complete tears of the muscle belly through both the long and short heads, with proximal and distal retraction of the stumps. (Fig 1C) There was extensive surrounding high T2 signal in, consistent with edema and hemorrhage. (Fig 1A) The distal biceps brachii tendon was intact at its insertion at the radial tuberosity, and the lacertus fibrosis was also intact.