THE ROLE OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN SHOULDER JOINT LESIONS

Abstract

Shoulder pain is a common clinical complaint that may be caused by abnormalities of the rotator cuff and a variety of other pathologic conditions. An accurate diagnosis is the essential element of a successful treatment plan in patients who present with shoulder pain. Diagnostic imaging, especially MR imaging, clarifies some diagnostically difficult scenarios by demonstrating both intra-articular and extra-articular anatomy. The aim of this work is to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of shoulder joint lesions. Forty patients were included in this study ( 24 males and 16 females ). Their ages ranged between 17 and 70 years. Twenty four patients were complaining of shoulder pain with limitation of the joint shoulder movements, they were suspected to have rotator cuff disease. The other sixteen patients were complaining of shoulder pain with a history of shoulder dislocation, they were suspected to have glenohumeral instability. All patients were clinically evaluated, and then subjected for radiological examination included MRJ for all patients and MR arthrography for 14 patients with suspected labral tear.