Shoulder MRI scan

You may be asked to wear a hospital gown or clothing without metal snaps or zippers (such as sweatpants and a t-shirt). Make sure you take off your watch, jewelry, and wallet. MRI can pull on any metallic objects. Some types of metal can cause blurry images. You will lie on a narrow table, which slides into a large…

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 6 hours before the scan. Tell your health care provider if you are afraid of close spaces (have claustrophobia). You may be given a medicine to help you feel sleepy and less anxious (sedative). Your provider may also suggest an "open" MRI, in which the machine is…

An MRI exam causes no pain. You will need to lie still. Too much movement can cause errors. The table may be hard or cold, but you can request a blanket or pillow. The machine produces loud thumping and humming noises when turned on. You can wear ear plugs to help reduce the noise. An intercom in the room lets you…

MRI is useful for diagnosing and evaluating sports injuries. It can provide clear pictures of parts of the shoulder (such as soft tissues) that are hard to see clearly on CT scans. Your provider may order this test if you have: A mass that can be felt during a physical exam An abnormal finding on an x-ray or bone scan…

A normal result means no problems were seen in your shoulder and surrounding tissue in the images.

Some possible causes of abnormal results may be: Degenerative changes due to age Abscess Bone infection (osteomyelitis) Broken or fractured shoulder bone Bursitis in the shoulder area Biceps tear Abnormal Osteonecrosis (vascular necrosis) Rotator cuff tear Rotator cuff tendinitis Shoulder inflammation (frozen…

MRI uses no radiation. No side effects from the magnetic fields and radio waves have been reported. It is also safe to have MRI performed during pregnancy. No side effects or complications have been proven. The most common type of contrast (dye) used is gadolinium. It is very safe. Allergic reactions to the substance…

Tests that may be done instead of an MRI of the shoulder include: Shoulder CT scan X-ray of the shoulder A CT scan may be preferred in some emergency cases, since it is faster and usually available right in the emergency room.

Anderson MW, Fox MG. MRI of the shoulder. In: Anderson MW, Fox MG, eds. Sectional Anatomy by MRI and CT . 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 2. Rossy WH, Frederick SS, Abrams JS. Subscapularis injury. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR, eds. DeLee, Drez,& Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine . 5th ed. Philadelphia,…