Abstract

A retrospective study of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the glenoid labrum performed with multiplanar gradient-echo (MPGR) sequences was done to ascertain the different appearances of the normal labrum and the findings in patients with tears. MPGR images were obtained with a 1.5-T magnet in 37 shoulders of 16 healthy subjects and 19 patients with subsequent surgical evaluation. Increased intralabral signal intensity was seen in 12 of 26 normal shoulders (46%), and atypical morphology was seen in six shoulders (23%). Atypical morphology was present in eight of nine patients with labral tears. Deformity (n = 2 [22%]) and clefts (n = 2 [22%]) were seen in patients with tears. Deformity (n = 3 [12%]) and clefts (n = 1 [4%]) were occasionally seen in healthy subjects. Absence of the labrum and separation of the labrum from the glenoid cavity was present only in patients with tears; therefore, the labrum should be presumed torn in the presence of these findings. Increased intralabral signal intensity on MPGR images did not help predict labral integrity; morphologic findings were more predictive of labral tear.