Shoulder MRI

MRI of the shoulder joint evaluating the rotator cuff tendons, labrum, glenohumeral ligaments, biceps tendon, and surrounding structures. Essential for diagnosing rotator cuff tears, impingement, and instability.

Shoulder MRI at AGEL Praha delivers detailed imaging of the shoulder's complex soft-tissue anatomy using the Siemens MAGNETOM Sola 1.5T scanner. The examination assesses the four rotator cuff tendons (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis), the glenoid labrum, the long head of the biceps tendon and its anchor, the glenohumeral ligaments, the acromioclavicular joint, and the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa. Rotator cuff pathology is the most common indication for shoulder MRI. The scan can distinguish between tendinopathy (degenerative thickening without tear), partial-thickness tears (bursal-side, articular-side, or intrasubstance), and full-thickness tears, and can measure tear dimensions and the degree of tendon retraction -- all of which directly influence the choice between conservative rehabilitation and surgical repair. Labral assessment is important for younger patients with instability (recurrent dislocations or subluxations). The scan can identify Bankart lesions (anterior-inferior labral tears), SLAP lesions (superior labral tears affecting the biceps anchor), and associated Hill-Sachs defects of the humeral head. Impingement syndromes -- where the rotator cuff tendons are compressed between the humeral head and the acromion -- produce characteristic findings including subacromial bursitis, acromial spur formation, and secondary cuff tendinopathy. The scan provides the anatomical detail needed to plan targeted subacromial decompression if conservative measures fail. The 25-minute examination is performed with the arm positioned at the side in a dedicated shoulder coil. The Sola's wide bore accommodates shoulder imaging comfortably. At 8,800 CZK (approximately EUR 360), the scan offers substantial savings for patients from neighbouring countries where private shoulder MRI typically costs EUR 450-700.