Shoulder MRI

MRI of a single shoulder joint assessing the rotator cuff tendons, labrum, biceps tendon, and glenohumeral structures. No contrast required for standard examination.

The shoulder MRI protocol at Affidea evaluates each rotator cuff tendon individually — supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis — grading any tendinopathy, partial-thickness tears, and full-thickness tears with retraction measurement. Coronal oblique images are aligned along the supraspinatus for optimal tear detection, while sagittal oblique images assess the rotator cuff footprint and muscle bulk. The glenoid labrum is evaluated for superior labral tears (SLAP lesions), anterior labral tears (Bankart lesions), and paralabral cysts. The long head of the biceps tendon is traced through the bicipital groove for subluxation, tendinopathy, and tears. Subacromial-subdeltoid bursal effusion and acromioclavicular joint pathology contributing to impingement are documented. This scan is appropriate for patients with persistent shoulder pain unresponsive to physiotherapy, post-dislocation instability, suspected rotator cuff pathology, and as a pre-operative assessment before arthroscopic repair.