"Magic-angle" phenomenon: a cause of increased signal in the normal lateral meniscus on short-TE MR images of the knee.

Peterfy, Charles; Janzen, D L; Tirman, P. F. J.; Dijke, Cornelis F. van; Pollack, Michael A.; Hk, Genant

doi:10.2214/ajr.163.1.8010202

Cited by 91 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Because of joint effusion and knee laxity in our patients with ligamentous injuries, we overcalled meniscal tears on the MR images (4,10). In our study, the ''magic angle'' phenomenon was another potential cause of linear intermediate signal intensity in the meniscus (32). Finally, abnormal deepening of the condylopatellar sulcus of the lateral femoral condyle was incorrectly thought to represent an osteochondral fracture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Posterolateral complex knee injuries: magnetic resonance imaging with surgical correlation

Theodorou

Fithian

et al. 2005

Acta Radiol

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Posterolateral complex knee injuries: magnetic resonance imaging with surgical correlation

Theodorou

Fithian

et al. 2005

Acta Radiol

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“…They all completed a questionnaire confirming no prior history of meniscal injury or surgery, and a full clinical examination of the knee was performed by a sports medicine physician (DOH). The experimental group comprised 14 asymptomatic gymnasts (four female, 10 male) with an average age of 20 (range [18][19][20][21][22], and an average period of gymnastics training of 13 years (range [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].Three subjects had a history of injury in one knee-a past meniscal injury, previous arthrography, and a history of patella tendinitis and chondromalacia patella-and in these subjects only the single asymptomatic knee was examined. In one asymptomatic subject, only a single knee was scanned.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Silent meniscal abnormalities in athletes: magnetic resonance imaging of asymptomatic competitive gymnasts.

et al. 1999

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Background-Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produces exceptionally detailed images of the intra-articular structures of the knee. Recognising the range of MRI appearances within a normal population is therefore necessary in order to avoid attributing a greater significance to these than is clinically justified. Objective-To compare MRI appearances in asymptomatic gymnasts with those in a less active population in order to identify findings that may be seen in the absence of significant pathology and thereby aid the clinical management of this athletic group. Methods-MR images were obtained from 24 knees of asymptomatic competitive American collegiate gymnasts aged 18-22. The menisci were evaluated according to established grading criteria, and compared with a group of controls matched for age and sex. Results-Grade 3 intrameniscal signal abnormalities are considered to be highly correlated with meniscal tears. When compared with control group, the experimental group of gymnasts had a significantly diVerent distribution (p<0.001) of grade 3 intrameniscal signal changes, preferentially involving the lateral meniscus. The overall incidence of grade 3 changes (13%) in gymnasts was not, however, significantly diVerent from the incidence in the controls. Conclusions-A knowledge of these MRI appearances is important when evaluating the lateral menisci within this group of athletes to prevent unnecessary treatment or intervention. This is particularly pertinent when the imaging findings do not closely correlate with the site of symptoms. (Br J Sports Med 1999;33:414-416)

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“…This sequence also allows other crucial joint structures, including cartilage, subchondral bone, ligaments and joint fluid to be imaged effectively ( Figure 2). 37,39 The sensitivity and specificity of detecting a meniscal tear by MRI are both reported to be in the range of 82-96%, and the utilization of the 'twoslice touch' rule (the tear must be seen on at least two adjacent images) in routine bidimensional MRI favours high specificity. 40,41 Key points ■ Meniscus damage is highly prevalent in middle-aged and elderly people in the general population ■ Most meniscal tears do not cause knee pain ■ Meniscus damage is almost always present in knees with radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) ■ Meniscus damage might lead to OA and OA might lead to meniscus damage ■ Conservative management (patient education, weight reduction and/or physical exercise therapy), should always be the first treatment of choice for patients with knee pain and degenerative meniscus damage ■ Patients who experience painful catching or locking of their knee due to an unstable meniscal tear might require surgical treatment Detailed reviews of meniscus MRI techniques, including descriptions of the common diffi culties in diagnosis of meniscus pathology, are available elsewhere.…”

Section: Menisci Anatomy and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meniscus pathology, osteoarthritis and the treatment controversy

et al. 2012

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The menisci are internal structures that are of central importance for a healthy knee joint; they have a key role in the structural progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA), and the risk of the disease dramatically increases if they are damaged by injury or degenerative processes. Meniscus damage might be considered a signifying feature of incipient OA in middle-aged and elderly people. As approximately every third knee of people in these groups has a damaged meniscus, tears are common incidental findings of knee MRI. However, as most tears do not cause symptoms, careful clinical evaluation is required to determine if a damaged meniscus is likely to directly impact a patient's symptoms. Conservative management of patients with knee pain and a degenerative meniscal tear should be considered as a first-line therapy before surgical treatment is contemplated. Patients with mechanical interference of joint movements, such as painful catching or locking, might need surgical treatment with meniscal repair if possible. In a subset of patients, meniscal resection might relieve pain and other symptoms that potentially originate directly from the torn meniscus. However, the possibility of an increased risk of OA if functional meniscal tissue is removed cannot be overlooked.

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"Magic-angle" phenomenon: a cause of increased signal in the normal lateral meniscus on short-TE MR images of the knee.

Cited by 91 publications

References 18 publications

Posterolateral complex knee injuries: magnetic resonance imaging with surgical correlation

Posterolateral complex knee injuries: magnetic resonance imaging with surgical correlation

Silent meniscal abnormalities in athletes: magnetic resonance imaging of asymptomatic competitive gymnasts.

Meniscus pathology, osteoarthritis and the treatment controversy

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