Your doctor can discover even more about your injury through one or more diagnosis tests. Initially you may have only standard x-rays to identify the cause of your problem. If a rotator cuff tear is suspected, your doctor may order other tests to obtain highly detailed views of your shoulder’s muscles and tendons.
X-rays
Images of bones may reveal abnormal bony structures, fractures or dislocations in your shoulder.
Arthrograms
Dye injected into your shoulder joint outlines the rotator cuff, as seen on a x-ray. If the cuff is torn, dye leaks out, showing up in the area outside the cuff.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Cross-sectional images provide views of rotator cuff problems, such as inflammation, tears and calcium deposits.