Normal anatomy, variants and pitfalls on shoulder MRI.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic imaging
• Radiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging is a key tool for evaluating shoulder impingement and instability.
• Accurate diagnosis relies on differentiating normal anatomical variations from pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review normal shoulder anatomy and common imaging pitfalls.
• To provide guidance on distinguishing normal variants from true shoulder abnormalities on MR imaging.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of relevant literature.
• Analysis of MR imaging findings of normal shoulder structures.
• Discussion of common anatomical variations and pitfalls.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of normal shoulder anatomy, including bony, cartilaginous, ligamentous, and tendinous structures.
• Identification and illustration of classical pitfalls such as sublabral holes, recesses, and the Buford complex.
• Presentation of strategies to differentiate these normal variants from actual shoulder pathologies.

Conclusions:

• Familiarity with normal shoulder anatomy and its variations is crucial for accurate MR interpretation.
• Recognizing common pitfalls prevents misdiagnosis of impingement and instability.
• This review aids radiologists in distinguishing normal variants from true shoulder abnormalities.