Table 4.

Normal anatomic structures that may mimic pathology.

Normal variants/Pitfalls	Mimicked Pathologies
Bone marrow reconversion	Pathological bone marrow replacement as in lymphoma or other tumors
Os acromiale	Fracture fragment of the distal acromion or normal acromioclavicular joint
Acromial insertion of the coracoacromial ligament	Acromial pseudospur
Acromial attachment of the deltoid tendon	Acromial pseudospur
Physiological posterolateral flattening of the humeral neck	Hill Sachs lesion
Physiological bare area in the posterolateral aspect of the humeral head	Humeral cartilage defect
Cystic changes of the humeral head	Reactive subchondral cysts of the lesser tuberosity and anterior aspect of the greater tuberosity related to rotator cuff tendinopathy and tears
Cartilage thinning at the tubercle of Assaki of the glenoid	Glenoid cartilage defect
Sublabral recess	Superior labral with anterior and posterior extension (SLAP) tear
Sublabral foramen	Anterior labral tear
Buford complex with an absent anterior superior labrum	Anterior superior labral tear or a displaced labral fragment due to middle glenohumeral ligament attachement directly on the anterosuperior glenoid
Supraspinatus-infraspinatus interdigitation	Tendinopathy
Rotator cable	Rotator cuff tear
Inferior glenohumeral ligament	Displaced labral fragment
Prominent synovial folds of the axillary recess	Loose bodies
Accessory head of the biceps muscle	Longitudinal split tear of the long head of the biceps tendon