Shoulder

Abstract

T he second most frequently and widely performed musculoskeletal extremity MRI examination involves the shoulder. Patients presenting with shoulder pain and dysfunction may have many derangements which can potentially coexist and can frequently overlap in clinical presentation. When physical examination is insufficient for diagnosis, or when additional information defining structural lesions is desired to assist the treating physician in planning medical or operative management, MRI can present a comprehensive examination of osseous and soft tissue structures about the shoulder. The two most frequently suspected sources of shoulder derangement involve rotator cuff disease and instability. The standard shoulder MRI protocol should evaluate both of these possibilities because of the very real possibility and frequency of overlap and coexistence of these problems in any given patient. In UNIT A22.1, the authors present their standard shoulder MRI examination, written to address possible cuff disease; however, this protocol also presents a very comprehensive look at possible instability lesions as well as other sources of shoulder problems.