title: Imaging of the shoulder:  a comparison of MRI and ultrasound.
abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is well established as a powerful imaging modality for the shoulder. In the last decade, ultrasound has emerged as an effective imaging option, alongside MRI, for evaluation of the shoulder. With MRI and ultrasound, clinicians now have two viable advanced imaging options for the diagnostic evaluation of shoulder pain. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of ultrasound and MRI for the shoulder. Applications where ultrasound is considered the imaging test of choice, those where MRI is more advantageous, and those where both ultrasound and MRI are viable alternatives for shoulder imaging are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, UCLA-Santa Monica Medical Center and Orthopedic Hospital, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA. blevine@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Kambiz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Motamedi
authors.forename: Leanne L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Seeger
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015588:Observer Variation; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012782:Shoulder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography