[Diagnostic imaging for atraumatic shoulder pain]

Shoulder pain is a common cause of consultation in primary care medicine. A detailed history and a carefully carried out physical exam allow to orientate the diagnosis towards an intrinsic or extrinsic cause and to the differential diagnosis. Rotator cuff injury is the most frequent affection. Plain radiography will often be done in first intention since it identifies direct or indirect signs associated with certain pathologies. Ultrasonography is an excellent way of evaluating soft tissue injury and allows a diagnosis in most cases (rotator cuff injury, tendinopathy of the long head of the biceps, bursitis, effusion, calcifications). Other imaging studies may be carried out depending on the pathology suspected.