The purpose of this study was to establish the accuracy of MR arthrography in depicting the morphology of the glenohumeral ligaments and the superior portion of the glenoid labrum.

Findings on MR arthrography and those derived from careful dissection of gross specimens were compared in 15 cadaver shoulders, focusing on the morphology and size of the superior and middle glenohumeral ligaments and the morphology of the inferior glenohumeral ligament. The frequencies of sublabral recess and sublabral foramen seen on MR arthrography and at anatomic dissection were also compared.

For the superior and middle glenohumeral ligaments, moderate correlation of size was found between measurements made on MR arthrograms and at anatomic dissection, with the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient calculated as .69990 and .71133, respectively. Morphologic descriptions of the inferior glenohumeral ligament based on MR arthrography and on anatomic dissection also showed good association (Cohen's kappa = .8936). Dissection revealed that the sublabral recess was present in 11 specimens. Of these, 10 recesses were identified on MR arthrograms. MR arthrography also revealed a sublabral recess that was not found at dissection. Four sublabral foramina were identified by both MR arthrography and dissection, and two were revealed only by MR arthrography.

MR arthrography is useful in the evaluation of the glenohumeral ligaments and the superior portion of the labrum. Anatomic variations of these anterior intraarticular structures can be accurately shown by MR arthrography. In addition, estimation of the size of glenohumeral ligaments can be achieved with acceptable accuracy on MR arthrograms.