Shoulder MRI

This test is not recommended in the following individuals:

• If you have tattoos: Since some inks used in the tattoos contain traces of metal, an MRI scan may cause discomfort or heat in the tattoo area. (Read more: Things you need to know before getting a tattoo)
• If you have metal in the body: The strong magnetic field produced during the MRI can affect metal implants or fragments present in the body.

If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor before getting an MRI done.

This test is done to evaluate or diagnose the following conditions:

• Unexplained shoulder pain that does not get better with treatment
• Fractures
• Decreased motion of the shoulder joint
• Pain/swelling/bleeding in the tissues surrounding the shoulder joint
• Abnormalities in the shoulder joint due to tears of ligaments and tendons
• Sports-related or work-related disorders caused by repeated strain/forceful impact/vibration from using hand-held tools
• Infections (such as bone infection)
• Progress after shoulder surgery
• Tumours involving joints and bones of the shoulder
• Fluid build-up in the shoulder joint
• Shoulder instability/weakness

You should not eat/drink anything for six hours before the test. Inform your healthcare practitioner if you:

• Are allergic to contrast material
• Are pregnant
• Have metal implants in your body (such as stents, dental implants, cochlear implants, cosmetic metal implants)
• Had a recent surgery on a blood vessel
• Use an intrauterine device
• Have kidney problems or sickle-cell anaemia
• Wear any medicine patches

You must also inform your healthcare practitioner or radiologist if you have a fear of closed spaces. In such a case, they might give you a sedative to reduce your anxiety.

(Read more: Claustrophobia triggers)

Leave all the jewellery and valuables such as watches and keys at home as you cannot carry them inside the scan room.

The procedure for the test usually involves the following:

• The radiology staff will ask you to remove all metal-containing objects, including hearing aids, piercings, dentures and even wigs, before entering the scan room.
• They might ask you to wear the hospital gown.
• Next, the staff will make you lie on a moveable table that will slide into the scanner.
• If the test requires the use of contrast/dye, a healthcare practitioner will administer it through IV.
• Make sure to stay still throughout the scanning procedure as movements can distort the images.

The test may last for half an hour to an hour or even longer.

The test is painless. However, the bed/table you may lie on may feel hard. You may also feel tired after lying in the same position throughout the test and may have a warm feeling on the shoulder during the scan. 

If a contrast was used, you might feel a coolness when it is injected. You might also have a spongy feeling in the scanned shoulder for up to two days after the test due to the use of contrast.

A normal result means that no problems were observed in your shoulder or surrounding tissue. An abnormal result would indicate any of the following conditions:

• An abscess (the build-up of pus under the skin that is often painful)
• Broken/fractured shoulder bone
• Osteonecrosis (a bone disease caused due to the loss of blood supply to the bone)
• Inflammation of rotator cuff (a group of tendons that controls arm rotation and elevation)
• Tear in any of the tendons of rotator cuff
• Tumour (including cancer)
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Bursitis (inflammation of the bursa, a cushion present between a bone and muscle/skin/tendon) in the shoulder area
• Biceps tear
• Frozen shoulder (inflammation of the shoulder)
• Shoulder labrum tear (shoulder labrum is a thick piece of tissue that keeps the ball of the joint in place)

The following are some risks associated with this test:

• The contrast dye can cause an allergic reaction in rare cases. It can be harmful in individuals who require dialysis for kidney disease. 
• The magnetic field produced during the procedure may result in malfunctioning or displacement of metal implants like pacemakers.

The benefits of this test include:

• It does not use radiation.
• It is painless.
• It gives a detailed diagnostic picture.

Generally, patients can continue with their daily activities right after the test. However, if you were given a sedative, you must take the following precautions:

• Arrange to have someone with you for 24 hours after the test
• Avoid driving a car or travelling by public transport
• Avoid operating any machinery on the day of the test

Your healthcare practitioner may order other tests along with this test, depending on the disease under investigation. Examples:

• For osteomyelitis: Tissue culture, bone biopsy
• For rotator cuff tears: magnetic resonance arthrography, ultrasound

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.