A shoulder arthrogram is a technique that uses contrast dye to identify specific shoulder injuries. It’s used in X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans to highlight areas of soft tissue damage. It’s very ...

Understanding the Context

What is an arthrogram? An arthrogram is a medical imaging test. It uses contrast material (dye) to give healthcare providers a detailed view of what’s happening inside your joints. An arthrogram is a type of imaging that can reveal hard-to-find problems in your joints.

Key Insights

Learn how it works, when you might need it, and how to get ready for it. What is arthrogram? An arthrogram is an X-ray exam of a joint, using a contrast agent and fluoroscopy (a live motion X-Ray). The arthrogram may include additional CT (for cross-sectional views) or MRI (for magnetic resonance) imaging. An arthrogram is a series of images of a joint after injection of a contrast medium, usually done by fluoroscopy or MRI.

Final Thoughts

The injection is normally done under a local anesthetic such as Novocain or lidocaine. What is an arthrogram? An arthrogram is a test to take pictures of the tissues inside your joint. These tissues include tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage. First your doctor injects a contrast material, such as a dye or air, into your joint. Then imaging is done with X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan.

Why is it done? An arthrogram is an imaging test that uses a dye-like fluid called contrast to create detailed images of joints. It can help identify joint pain. An arthrogram is a specialized medical imaging test that provides a detailed view of the soft tissues inside a joint space.