CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

A patient with a clinical history of tendon injury in the shoulder region needs a functional study. Which study would best demonstrate this type of injury?

1. MRI

2. Arthrography

3. Nuclear medicine

4. Sonography

The correct answer is: MRI

An MRI is the most effective imaging modality for evaluating tendon injuries, particularly in the shoulder region, due to its ability to provide detailed soft tissue contrast. MRI excels at visualizing the integrity and structure of tendons, muscles, ligaments, and cartilage, making it especially valuable when assessing injuries. It allows for the distinction between different types of soft tissue and can identify issues such as tears, inflammation, and other abnormalities in the tendons surrounding the shoulder joint. Moreover, MRI does not involve ionizing radiation, which is advantageous for patients requiring multiple follow-up studies. While other modalities can provide information about shoulder injuries, they may not offer the same level of detail in assessing soft tissue as MRI does. For instance, sonography can be useful for dynamic assessments and can visualize some superficial tendon injuries, but its operator-dependence and limitations in deeper tissue visualization reduce its priority as a primary imaging tool for a comprehensive evaluation of tendon injuries. Similarly, while arthrography can visualize joint structures and any alterations in anatomy, it is more focused on joint spaces rather than tendons themselves. Nuclear medicine is typically used for assessing metabolic activity in bone rather than soft tissue evaluation. Thus, MRI remains the gold standard for diagnosing tendon injuries in this scenario.