Ultrasound IrelandMedical & Maternity Ultrasound Centers
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Shoulder Ultrasound Scan

Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Pain Scan|€170(Medical Card: €150)(Duration: 20-30 minutes)
Preparation:No special preparation required
Results:Radiologist report sent within 2-3 working days

What Is a Shoulder Ultrasound Scan?

A shoulder ultrasound is a painless, radiation-free scan of the tendons, muscles, and bursa around your shoulder. It is one of the most requested scans in our musculoskeletal ultrasound service, and for good reason: for rotator cuff problems — the most common cause of shoulder pain — ultrasound is comparable to MRI in experienced hands.

What sets ultrasound apart is that it is dynamic. We can watch your rotator cuff tendons glide under the acromion as you lift your arm, which is how impingement is assessed — something a static MRI image cannot show.

One honest limitation: ultrasound sees the structures around the shoulder joint, not deep inside it. The labrum and the joint cartilage are hidden behind bone, so if your symptoms suggest a labral tear — more common after dislocations and in younger athletes — MRI is the right test, and our consultant radiologist's report will say so.

What We Assess With This Scan

  • Rotator cuff tendons (tears — full or partial thickness — and tendinopathy)
  • Subacromial-subdeltoid bursa (bursitis)
  • Calcific tendinitis (calcium deposits in the tendons)
  • Long head of biceps tendon (tendinopathy, subluxation, rupture)
  • Acromioclavicular (AC) joint (swelling, arthritis changes)
  • Dynamic impingement — watching the tendons move as you raise your arm
  • Fluid collections and muscle wasting around the shoulder

This scan cannot assess:

  • Inside the shoulder joint itself — the labrum and joint cartilage (MRI is the right test for suspected labral or SLAP tears)
  • Bone injuries or fractures (X-ray)
  • Frozen shoulder is a clinical diagnosis — ultrasound helps by excluding other causes of a stiff, painful shoulder

Why You Might Need This Scan

Common symptoms:

  • •Pain reaching overhead or behind your back
  • •Night pain, especially lying on the affected shoulder
  • •Weakness lifting the arm
  • •Clicking or catching with movement
  • •Pain after a fall, a rugby tackle, or a sudden pull on the arm
  • •Gradually increasing stiffness

Conditions we assess:

  • •Rotator cuff tears (full and partial thickness)
  • •Rotator cuff tendinopathy
  • •Subacromial bursitis and impingement
  • •Calcific tendinitis
  • •Biceps tendinopathy or rupture
  • •AC joint arthritis
  • •Joint effusion (fluid in the shoulder)

What to Expect

Before Your Scan

No special preparation is needed.

Preparation checklist:

  • Wear a top that allows easy access to the shoulder (a vest or loose t-shirt works well)
  • Arrive 10 minutes before your appointment time

During the Scan

You'll sit on a swivel chair while the sonographer applies warm gel and moves the probe over the front, side, and back of your shoulder. You'll be asked to move your arm into different positions — behind your back, out to the side, overhead — so each rotator cuff tendon can be seen clearly and impingement assessed in motion. If the shoulder is sore, tell the sonographer; positions can be adjusted. The scan takes 20-30 minutes.

After Your Scan

You can return to normal activities immediately, including driving and work.

Results & Next Steps

Your scan is reviewed by a consultant radiologist, who prepares a formal report. This report is sent to your referring doctor within 2-3 working days. Please note: our sonographers cannot provide verbal results on the day.

Pricing

Price: €170 (Medical Card: €150)

Cancellation: We require 24 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling.

Ready to Book?

Available 7 days a week across our three Dublin locations.

Call 01 210 0232Make an Appointment

Frequently Asked Questions

For rotator cuff tears and tendinopathy — the most common causes of shoulder pain — ultrasound is comparable to MRI, and it adds dynamic assessment that MRI cannot. MRI is better for structures inside the joint, such as the labrum and cartilage. If your scan or symptoms suggest a problem inside the joint, the radiologist's report will recommend MRI.
Yes. Ultrasound can usually distinguish a full-thickness tear from a partial-thickness tear and measure its size — information that helps your doctor or physiotherapist plan treatment.
Each rotator cuff tendon is seen best in a specific arm position, and moving the arm lets us watch the tendons glide in real time to check for impingement. This dynamic assessment is one of the main advantages of ultrasound over other imaging.
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is mainly a clinical diagnosis made from your symptoms and examination. Ultrasound plays a supporting role: it can show suggestive signs and, importantly, rule out other causes of a stiff, painful shoulder such as a rotator cuff tear or calcific tendinitis.
A GP or physiotherapist referral is recommended as it provides useful clinical context. If you don't have one, please contact us to discuss your situation.
The scan itself is painless. If your shoulder is already sore, some of the arm positions may be briefly uncomfortable — the sonographer will work with you to keep this to a minimum.
Yes — joint and soft tissue scans for children are provided through our paediatric ultrasound service. Please mention your child's age when booking so we can schedule appropriately.
Your images are reviewed by a consultant radiologist and a formal report is sent to your referring doctor within 2-3 working days.

Ready to Book Your Scan?

Our experienced team is available 7 days a week across our three Dublin locations.

Make an AppointmentCall 01 210 0232