37 year old male presenting with right shoulder pain
Findings
Sagittal T1(a), Sagittal T2 (b) and coronal T2 (c) images of right shoulder reveal fatty atrophy of teres minor and deltoid muscles.
Diagnosis
Quadrilateral space syndrome
Summary
Quadrilateral space syndrome is a clinical syndrome resulting from compression of the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery in the quadrilateral space. The quadrilateral space is an anatomic space in the upper arm bounded by the long head of the triceps, the teres minor and teres major muscles, and the cortex of the humerus. On MRI, this syndrome is manifest by focal atrophy involving the teres minor muscle with or without involvement of portions of the deltoid muscle. Fibrous bands in the region of the quadrilateral space are believed to be the cause of nerve and artery compression in most patients with quadrilateral space syndrome. Fibrous bands are usually not visible on MRI. Other causes of quadrilateral space syndrome include trauma, ganglion cyst, paralabral cyst, aneurysms of posterior circumflex humeral artery and tumors in quadrilateral space.
Further reads
Cothran, R. L., Jr, & Helms, C. (2005). Quadrilateral space syndrome: incidence of imaging findings in a population referred for MRI of the shoulder. AJR. American journal of roentgenology, 184(3), 989–992. https://doi.org/10.2214
Have a vision to collaborate?
Let's Connect
Try a complimentary trial to have a glimpse of our services