Anterosuperior labral variants of the shoulder: appearance on gradient-recalled-echo and fast spin-echo MR images.

Abstract

To characterize the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of two anterosuperior labral variants, the sublabral foramen (SLF) and the Buford complex. The axial gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) MR images and the fat-suppressed, T2-weighted, fast spin-echo (SE) images were reviewed in 19 patients with arthroscopically proved SLF and 11 patients with a Buford complex. The anterosuperior labrum was graded as normal, detached, or absent on the images. For the patients with an SLF, the anterosuperior labrum was graded as detached in all patients who underwent fast SE imaging but in only 43% of patients who underwent GRE imaging. For the patients with a Buford complex, the anterosuperior labrum was graded as absent in only 30% of patients who underwent GRE imaging and in none of the patients who underwent fast SE imaging. Isolated MR abnormalities of the anterosuperior labrum may represent either of the two asymptomatic labral variants.