 |
Shoulder
An MRI shoulder
scan will usually identify the cause of pain or limited movement
in the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff is the collection of muscles
and tendons which support and move the upper arm. Pain in the shoulder,
particularly when there is also the inability to raise the arm fully,
is often due to disease of the rotator cuff. Rotator cuff disease
is well shown by MRI.
One of the main components of the rotator cuff is the supraspinatus
muscle, which lies immediately above the shoulder and is the muscle
mainly responsible for lifting the arm.
Partial or complete tears of the supraspinatus tendon are common
and usually give rise to pain on certain shoulder movements. If
there is a complete tear of the supraspinatus tendon then arm movement
is initially very restricted but over time other muscles can take
over and some movements will return. Supraspinatus tendon disease
is often due to pressure on the tendon from the acromion process,
a part of the scapula adjacent to the supraspinatus tendon, which
can compress the tendon against the head of the humerus (upper arm
bone) .
MRI will show whether there is inflammation or a tear of the shoulder
muscles and tendons. An MRI scan will also show whether a tendon
problem needs surgery, or whether physiotherapy is the best treatment.
A number of other conditions which can also affect the shoulder,
such as osteoarthritis, inflammation, fractures, tumours and infection
will also be identified by MRI.
|
| Normal
Supraspinatus tendon |
 |
|
 |
Supraspinatus tear
This patient had injured his shoulder whilst trying to start
a lawn mower engine and had had pain and restricted movements
ever since. The MR scan showed a tear of the supraspinatus tendon.
Subsequent surgical repair relieved the symptoms |
|
 |
Lipoma of the Deltoid
This patient was concerned about a painless lump at the back
of her shoulder. MR showed this to be a harmless collection
of fat in the deltoid (the large muscle which covers the shoulder).
No treatment was necessary. |
|
| |
|
