Comprehensive Shoulder US Examination: A Standardized Approach with Multimodality Correlation for Common Shoulder...

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal Radiology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Shoulder pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition in clinical practice.
• Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the primary tool for shoulder soft-tissue evaluation.
• Ultrasonography (US) is emerging as a valuable complementary imaging modality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the utility and benefits of shoulder US as an adjunct to MR imaging.
• To describe a standardized approach for performing shoulder US examinations.
• To review common indications and characteristic US findings for shoulder pathologies.

Main Methods:

• The review details the basic technique of shoulder US.
• Normal shoulder anatomy visualized via US is presented.
• Common shoulder pathologies and their US findings are correlated with MR imaging and arthroscopy.

Main Results:

• US offers advantages like low cost, accessibility, and real-time dynamic assessment.
• US is effective for evaluating superficial soft tissues, including the rotator cuff, bursa, and biceps tendon.
• Standardized shoulder US enhances diagnostic accuracy and patient care.

Conclusions:

• Shoulder US is a beneficial complementary tool to MR imaging for assessing shoulder pain.
• A standardized US examination protocol is crucial for consistent, high-quality patient care.
• Increased radiologist familiarity with shoulder US improves diagnostic expertise and satisfaction.