Magnetic Resonance Imaging has become one of the most important diagnostic tools for evaluating shoulder abnormalities because of its superior soft tissue contrast, multiplanar imaging capability, and non-invasive nature. Shoulder pain and dysfunction are common musculoskeletal complaints affecting individuals of different age groups and are frequently associated with trauma, degenerative disorders, sports injuries, and inflammatory conditions. Accurate assessment of shoulder abnormalities is essential for proper diagnosis, treatment planning, and prevention of long-term disability.

The present study is a literature review focusing on the assessment of shoulder abnormalities using MRI. Approximately 30–40 published research articles, review papers, and radiological studies from various scientific databases were analyzed to evaluate the role of MRI in diagnosing common shoulder pathologies. The review included studies related to rotator cuff tears, tendinosis, bursitis, labral injuries, shoulder impingement syndrome, joint instability, and degenerative changes.

The reviewed literature demonstrated that rotator cuff abnormalities, particularly supraspinatus tendon tears, are the most commonly detected shoulder pathologies on MRI. MRI was found to be highly effective in differentiating partial-thickness and full-thickness tears and in identifying associated abnormalities such as tendon degeneration, muscle atrophy, bursitis, and joint effusion. Several studies also highlighted the importance of MRI and MR arthrography in diagnosing labral tears and shoulder instability, especially in athletes and trauma patients.