Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of painful shoulder

Abstract

Background: The shoulder pain etiology is diverse and many disorders present with similar symptoms and signs. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides good multiplanar delineation even without contrast and absence of radiation hazards. Aim and Objectives: To evaluate the role of MRI in diagnosing causes of shoulder pain and their limitations and pitfalls, if any. Material and Methods: Adescriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken in a tertiary care centre from January 2023 to December 2023 with study population of 100 patients referred to the Department of Radiology at our institute with complaints of shoulder pain. Results: Most patients in the study in our study were in the age group of 41-60 years (44%) with mean age of patients being 45.34 ± 16.10 years. In the present study, most patients were male (72%) and common pathologies observed were joint effusion (64%), rotator cuff tear (50%), tendinopathy (46%), degenerative diseases (42%), and bursitis (34%). Hill Sachs's lesion was observed in 20% of patients, while Bankart's was in 24%. A malignant tumor was present in only one patient. Conclusion: MRI showed high sensitivity and specificity for detecting rotator cuff pathologies. It is also highly sensitive for shoulder injuries arising from soft tissues particularly in cases without known trauma. These findings underscore the clinical relevance of MRI in managing shoulder pain, emphasizing its potential to enhance patient outcomes and optimize treatment strategies.

Keywords

• diagnosis
• rotator cuff disease
• imaging modalities
• shoulder pathology