Posterior shoulder labrocapsular structures in all aspects; 3D volumetric MR arthrography study.

Abstract

Pathologies of the posterior labrocapsular structures of the shoulder joint are far less common than anterior labrocapsuloligamentous lesions. Most of these pathologies have been associated with traumatic posterior dislocation. A smaller portion of the lesions include posterior extension of superior labral anteroposterior lesions, posterior superior internal impingement, and damage to the posterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament. Labrocapsular anatomic variations of the posterior shoulder joint can mimic labral pathology on conventional MR and occasionally on MR arthrographic images. Knowledge of this variant anatomy is key to interpreting MR images and studying MR arthrography of the posterior labrocapsular structure to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgical procedures. In this article, we review normal and variant anatomy of the posterior labrocapsular structure of the shoulder joint based on MR arthrography and discuss how to discriminate normal anatomic variants from labrocapsular damage.