Common Mistakes in Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Shoulder Injuries

Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard imaging tool to identify and characterize shoulder disorders involving bone and soft tissues. The spatial and contrast resolutions of magnetic resonance imaging allow for visualization of complex anatomical structures and subtle pathologies. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity are excellent, but accurate magnetic resonance imaging interpretation does require knowledge of developmental variations that can be confused with symptomatic abnormalities. In this article, we review commonly encountered magnetic resonance imaging findings that are normal and asymptomatic but can mimic treatable shoulder lesions.