Diagnostic Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Meniscal Tears in Dogs Affected With Naturally Occuring Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture

Abstract

A stifle magnetic resonance (MR) imaging protocol was developed based on the appearance of the cruciate ligaments and menisci in normal dogs. Proton density images were subjectively considered to have the highest likelihood of detecting a meniscal lesion. Following this initial evaluation, the accuracy of high-field MR imaging to detect meniscal tears in dogs was evaluated in 11 dogs suffering from naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Dogs underwent MR imaging of the affected stifle before surgery. MR imaging and surgical findings were assessed independently, and then compared. Five tears of the medial meniscus were correctly diagnosed with MR imaging and 19 normal menisci were accurately characterized as such, based on MR images. In one medial meniscus, changes consistent with meniscal degeneration were seen on MR images but this was not seen at surgery. With regard to the lateral meniscus, one false positive diagnosis of a tear was made and this likely represented a normal variation. One other lateral meniscus had changes consistent with meniscal degeneration but, as with the similar lesion seen in the medial meniscus, this was not confirmed surgically. The global sensitivity of MR imaging for the diagnosis of a meniscal tear was 100% and the specificity was 94%. High-field MR imaging is a reliable method to diagnose meniscal tears preoperatively and this may be useful in selecting the surgical approach to clinically abnormal joints and may decrease the need for arthrotomy.

Diagnostic accuracy of a short-duration 3 Tesla magnetic resonance protocol for diagnosing stifle joint lesions in dogs with non-traumatic cranial cruciate ligament rupture

“…One study, which compared the use of 1.5 T MR with computed radiography to assess osteophytosis, subchondral bone sclerosis, joint effusion and soft tissue thickening after experimentally-induced osteoarthritis in dogs, found that MR was more sensitive than radiography for detection of the onset and progression of osteophytosis [1]. Another study found that 1.5 T MR detected meniscal tears in clinical cases of CCLR with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94% [3]. …”

Comparison of High-field and Low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Stifle Joint Disorders in Dogs

“…Furthermore, it avoids the risk of magic angle artifact (Podadera et al 2014). Besides that, the T2-weighted FSE and PD-weighted with fat-suppressed sequences were the best to visualize joint effusion, edema and inflammation of stifle joint (Bredella et al 2000, Blond et al 2008, D'Anjou et al 2008. In another study, the diagnosis of a cranial cruciate ligament rupture, even by means of a 3T, was difficult, and was characterized by an increase in the signal intensity of a hypointense ligament (Galindo-Zamora et al 2013).…”

“…However, during the anatomic study of the meniscus in the low magnetic field heterogeneous signal increase in the center was observed. The authors supposed that it was due to the gradient echo sequence used and its hyperintense effect (Martig et al 2006, Blond et al 2008, Pujol et al 2011. Similarly, in a high-field study Barrett et al (2009) defined as an entire meniscus with intrameniscal increased signal intensity that did not reach meniscal margins.…”

“…In a high-field MRI study Blond et al (2008) described the detectability of meniscal lesions with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94%, but in another study using PD-weighted sequence in the sagittal plane sensitivity was 90% and specificity was 96% (Barrett et al 2009). Whereas Harper et al (2011), using low-field MRI, successfully detected 90% of medial meniscus tears.…”

Magnetic resonance imaging of selected limb joints in dogs

“…Banfield and Morrison (2000) has shown, that in order to increase accuracy of stifle imaging in MRI arthrogaphy can be done. Blond et al (2008) informed that sensitivity of MRI for meniscal tears diagnosis was 100%. Similar observation reported Bottcher et al (2010) and their results for meniscal tears were 95%.…”