Shoulder Lesions: Diagnostic Tests

Obligatory medical device diagnostics.

  • X-ray of the shoulder, in two planes

Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination and obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification.

  • Sonography (ultrasound examination) of the shoulder (shoulder sono).
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; computer-assisted cross-sectional imaging method (using magnetic fields, i.e., without X-rays); particularly well suited for imaging soft tissue injuries) of the shoulder – to examine soft tissue structures (nerves, cartilage or tumors).
  • Direct shoulder MR arthrography (shoulder MR with intra-articular (“into the joint cavity”) volume administration of a highly diluted MR contrast agent) – e.g. in all forms of instability (here: Tears or a detachment of the anteroinferior labrum (glenoid lip), with or without bony involvement), suspected internal impingement (shoulder tightness syndrome), rotator cuff integrity, identification of free intra-articular joint bodies, fine diagnosis of structural lesions such as cartilage ulcerations, etc. Note: Joint infection is a contraindication (contraindication) for arthrography.
  • Computed tomography (CT; sectional imaging procedure (X-ray images taken from different directions with computer-based evaluation) – to detect bony injuries of the shoulder.
  • X-rays of adjacent joints – to exclude co-involvement.