mrimaster

MRI Shoulder

Indications for shoulder MRI scan

Contraindications

Patient preparation for shoulder MRI

Positioning for shoulder MRI

MRI shoulder positioning photo

Recommended MRI Shoulder Protocols, Parameters, and Planning

Shoulder localiser

A three-plane localizer must be taken at the beginning to localize and plan the sequences. Typically, localizers take less than 25 seconds and utilize T1 weighted low-resolution scans for this purpose. It is advisable to acquire additional localizers based on the initial localizer to obtain accurate coronal, axial, and sagittal views of the shoulder.

mri shoulder localizer planning image

T2* medic or PD fat sat axial 3mm SFOV

Plan the axial slices on the coronal plane and angle the positioning block perpendicular to the glenohumeral joint. Check the positioning block in the other two planes. Use an appropriate angle in the sagittal plane, perpendicular to the humeral head. The slices should be sufficient to cover the entire shoulder joint from the top of the acromioclavicular joint to two slices below the inferior glenohumeral ligament (articular capsule). Adding saturation bands over the chest will help reduce ghosting artifacts caused by breathing. The phase direction should be anteroposterior to avoid wrap-around and ghosting artifacts from the chest.

planning and protocol of shoulder mri axial scans

Parameters pd fs

TR

3500-4500

TE

30-40

SLICE

3 MM

FAT SAT

SPAIR

PHASE

A>P

MATRIX

320X320

FOV

150-160

GAP

10%

NEX(AVRAGE)

2

Parameters medic

TR

1000-1200

TE

30

SLICE

3 MM

FLIP

40

PHASE

A>P

MATRIX

320X256

FOV

150-180

GAP

10%

NEX(AVRAGE)

2

 

T1 tse coronal 3mm SFOV

Plan the coronal slices on the axial plane and angle the positioning block parallel to the supraspinatus tendon. Do not exceed a 45° angle, as angling more than 45° will result in a change from the coronal plane to the sagittal plane. Verify the positioning block’s alignment in the other two planes. Use an appropriate angle in the sagittal plane, parallel to the humeral head. Ensure that the slices cover the entire shoulder joint, extending from the anterior portion of the coracoid process to two slices posterior to the humeral head. Additionally, consider adding an oblique saturation band over the chest to minimize ghosting artifacts caused by breathing.

planning and protocol of shoulder mri coronal scans

Parameters

TR

400-600

TE

15-25

SLICE

3 MM

FLIP

130

PHASE

A>P

MATRIX

320X320

FOV

150-180

GAP

10%

NEX(AVRAGE)

2

 

T2* medic or PD fat sat coronal 3mm SFOV

Plan the coronal slices on the axial plane and angle the positioning block parallel to the supraspinatus tendon. Do not exceed a 45° angle, as angling more than 45° will result in a change from the coronal plane to the sagittal plane. Verify the positioning block’s alignment in the other two planes. Use an appropriate angle in the sagittal plane, parallel to the humeral head. Ensure that the slices cover the entire shoulder joint, extending from the anterior portion of the coracoid process to two slices posterior to the humeral head. Additionally, consider adding an oblique saturation band over the chest to minimize ghosting artifacts caused by breathing.

planning and protocol of shoulder mri coronal scans

Parameters pd fs

TR

3000-4000

TE

30-40

SLICE

3 MM

FAT SAT

SPAIR

PHASE

A>P

MATRIX

320X320

FOV

150-160

GAP

10%

NEX(AVRAGE)

2

Parameters medic

TR

1000-1200

TE

30

SLICE

3 MM

FLIP

40

PHASE

R>L

MATRIX

320X256

FOV

150-160

GAP

10%

NEX(AVRAGE)

2

T2 stir coronal 3mm SFOV

Plan the coronal slices on the axial plane and angle the positioning block parallel to the supraspinatus tendon. Do not exceed a 45° angle, as angling more than 45° will result in a change from the coronal plane to the sagittal plane. Verify the positioning block’s alignment in the other two planes. Use an appropriate angle in the sagittal plane, parallel to the humeral head. Ensure that the slices cover the entire shoulder joint, extending from the anterior portion of the coracoid process to two slices posterior to the humeral head. Additionally, consider adding an oblique saturation band over the chest to minimize ghosting artifacts caused by breathing.

planning and protocol of shoulder mri coronal scans

Parameters

TR

3000-4000

TE

110

FLIP

130

NEX

2

SLICE

3MM

MATRIX

320X256

FOV

150-160

PHASE

H>F

GAP

10%

TI

130

PD fat sat sagittal 3mm SFOV

Plan the sagittal slices on the axial plane and angle the positioning block perpendicular to the supraspinatus tendon. Verify the positioning block in the other two planes. Ensure an appropriate angle is set in the coronal plane, parallel to the humerus. Include enough slices to cover the entire shoulder joint, from the deltoid muscle to the scapular notch. Additionally, consider adding an oblique saturation band over the chest to minimize ghosting artifacts caused by breathing.

Parameters PD FS

TR

3000-4000

TE

30-40

SLICE

3 MM

FAT SAT

SPAIR

PHASE

A>P

MATRIX

320X320

FOV

150-160

GAP

10%

NEX(AVRAGE)

2