I recently had an MRI done on my left shoulder for pain: Can anyone explain to me exactly what the doctors mean by these results?

FINDINGS: There is diffuse thickening of the distal supraspinatus tendon with increased intratendinous T2 signal. A partial undersurface tear is noted at the greater tuberosity insertion (rim-rent tear). No full thickness rotator cuff is seen. Teh acromion is slightly downsloping and there is mild thickening of the coracoacromial ligament. The bony acromiohumeral distance is preserved. There is suggestion of a non-displaced anterior labral tear. However, absence if adequate fluid in the glenohumeral joint limits optimal assessment for labral pathology. A subcentimeter T1 low, T2 hyperintense lesion in the left femoral head may represent a enchondroma. Muscles and subcutaneous tissues show normal signal. There is no fracture or contusion. Subacromial-subdeltoid edema.

*****IMPRESSION*****

Distal supraspinal tendinosis. Partial undersurface tear of the distal superaspinatus tendon at the greater tuberosity insertion (rim-rent tear).

Slightly lateral downsloping acromion. Mild edema in the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa.

Possible non-displaced anterior abral tear.

Please help me understand what they are saying?

hello and welcome to the board.
unfortunately i'd have to be a dr to understand those results and i'm not.

i would suggest you bug your dr to tell you what it means.
it sounds like you need an appt to sit down and talk with him so he can interpret the results to you.

i once even called the radiologist that read my mri results and he told me what the report said.

good luck and keep us posted.

****************************

Welcome to NT

I have a much better understanding of back and neck MRIs.

I'll try, but always ask your doctor to explain. It helps to look at diagrams. The more you understand, the better you can help yourself get through this.

In the "findings" part, the radiologist is explaining where and what he sees or don't see, which needs to be pointed as an exclusion of causes, so to say. It's doctor-to-doctor talk.

"Diffuse swelling" can cause pain, indicates injury/infection/irritated...

"Distal" is the farthest distance from the beginning of the body part being described.

Good image of shoulder for graphic understanding.

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedic...acromialis.jpg


Tears are not good. Sometimes surgery is the only way to fix or help. Must depend on doc about that, though.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17885069

"No full thickness rotator cuff is seen. " this is a good thing.

"The acromion is slightly downsloping and there is mild thickening of the coracoacromial ligament." ask your doc. "slightly and mild" is better than other degrees of abnormal findings. `

"The bony acromiohumeral distance is preserved." This is a good finding.

"There is suggestion of a non-displaced anterior labral tear. " Tear not good...

"A subcentimeter T1 low, T2 hyperintense lesion in the left femoral head may represent a enchondroma." ask your doc...

"Muscles and subcutaneous tissues show normal signal. There is no fracture or contusion." Good findings...

Your doctor and surgeon will determine your needs versus risks. Shoulders are tough to heal. I hope it goes well whatever you chose or need.


"Impression" is the radiologist's diagnoses of your findings. Doctor's take it as gospel.