Applicability of 3T Shoulder MRI in Detection of Labral Pathology

MR arthrogram is an invasive procedure where the patient's joint is injected with a mixture of dilute gadolinium, iodinated contrast medium, local anesthetic, and saline solution followed by imaging with 1.5 Tesla MRI.

3T MRI uses very powerful magnets that produce a 3-tesla magnetic field. A 3-tesla magnetic field is twice as powerful as the fields used in conventional high-field MRI scanners, and as much as 15 times stronger than low-field or open MRI scanners. This results in a clearer and more complete image. Studies have shown that it is highly sensitive and specific in detecting labral and cartilage pathology