[Computed tomography of the soft tissues of the shoulder. 1. Synovial reactions]

CT of the soft tissues of the shoulder without intra-articular contrast injections is useful for demonstrating effusions and synovial proliferation in the shoulder joint, in the bursa and in the synovial coverings of the long head of the biceps. The authors describe, for the first time, an intracapsular collection of fat in the posterior aspect of the capsule. This can be demonstrated via CT in 80% of the population. This fat line is displaced by even a few ml. of fluid in the presence of an effusion.