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Introduction: The quadrilateral space syndrome (QSS) has clinical features caused by a nervous and /or vascular compression at the lateral axillary space. The prevalence of this syndrome is unknown but it is believed to be low. Nevertheless, some cases with an incomplete clinical presentation might be misdiagnosed. Purpose: To describe a diagnostic protocol used in a series of consecutive cases of patients with non-specific omalgia and suspected QSS. Materials and Methods: Ten patients of both genders suffering shoulder pain aggravated by forced external rotation were prospectively evaluated. One of them had bilateral symptoms. Evaluation included clinical examination, electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies of the deltoid and teres minor bilaterally. Results were compared with an agematched control group. Diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: The EMG showed in all the cases a selective entrapment of the branch for the teres minor, with preservation of the innervation of the deltoid. The RMN showed in the 11 affected shoulders selective atrophy of the teres minor. Conclusion: Incomplete presentations of the QSS are usually underdiagnosed, making it necessary to maintain a high index of clinical suspicion in front of any non-specific omalgia case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]