The Value of MRI in Evaluation of Shoulder Pain

Objectives: To evaluate the role of MRI, MR Arthrography compared to arthroscopy in shoulder pain. Methods: This study was conducted on 100 patients complaining of shoulder pain. The patients were referred to the radiology department from the out patient clinics and the orthopedics department of Menoufia University Hospital. All patients were examined by conventional MRI while only 8 of them had additional MRA. Arthroscopy was performed to all patients. Results: There were fifty six males and forty four females, their ages ranged between 19 & 69 years (mean age, 31 years). There is significant positive correlation between MRI and arthroscopy with r = +0.9, 95% CI (0.82- 0.99) and p value = 0.003. MRI showed 100 % specificity for anterior labral tears, SS (supraspinatus) partial thickness tear and SS full thickness tear and 98.9 % specificity for SLAP (superior labrum anterior to posterior). MRI showed 76.9% sensitivity for anterior labral tears and SS partial thickness tear. Conventional MRI showed 54.5% sensitivity in diagnosis of SLAP tears and 83.3% sensitivity in diagnosis of supraspinatous full thickness tears. Conclusion: MRI of the shoulder is an accurate, useful and established technique for assessment of different shoulder lesions.