Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sensitive and accurate non-invasive tool in investigating shoulder pathology, because of its multiplanar capability and excellent soft tissue resolution.
Objective: The present study is undertaken to study usefulness, advantages, and pitfalls of MRI in patients presenting with symptoms of glenohumeral joint pathologies.
Materials and Methods: The study included 50 patients referred for MRI shoulder after a detailed clinical workup. Images were acquired using various non-contrast-enhanced sequences and were analyzed for pathologies.
Results: Among the 50 patients included in the study, the various pathologies were detected on MRI. Rotator cuff disease is the most common pathology of glenohumeral joint, for which MRI was done. Involvement of supraspinatus muscle or tendon was 74% in all the pathologies. Associated involvement of subscapularis and infraspinatus muscles does not show much difference. Of 42 patients diagnosed with supraspinatus tear, partial tear was seen in 34 patients (81%) and complete tear was seen in 8 (19%) patients. Involvement of supraspinatus muscle is the same in traumatic and non-traumatic injuries.
Conclusion: MRI is the preferred test for evaluating impingement syndrome and rotator cuff pathology. We recommend that state-of-the-art conventional MRI, including fat-suppression sequences, be performed as the first MRI evaluation in shoulder pathologies.
Key words: Impingement; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Rotator Cuff; Shoulder; Supraspinatus Muscle or Tendon
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