Meniscal injuries: detection using MR imaging.

Abstract

Both retrospective and blinded analyses of thin-section, high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) images of the knee joint, produced using a solenoid surface coil, indicate that MR imaging is an effective technique for evaluating meniscal injuries. Images of 49 patients were evaluated, and the results were correlated with those of subsequent arthroscopy. A grading scale was developed to rate the index of suspicion of a meniscal tear based on the MR images. Overall, approximately 80% of menisci rated grade 4 (definite tear) or 3 (probable tear) were found to have corresponding tears at arthroscopy. In many other patients with a grade 4 or 3 meniscus in whom a corresponding tear was not found arthroscopically, meniscal tears at other sites or other abnormalities were correctly diagnosed using MR. A majority of the false-positive MR images involved the posterior horns of the menisci, the sites of most false-negative arthroscopic diagnoses. The predictive value of a negative MR image was almost 100%. Even in patients with moderate-to-large effusions, the menisci were accurately evaluated. The results imply that MR imaging is useful in the preoperative evaluation of suspected meniscal tears.

Economic Considerations for the Diagnosis and Therapy of Meniscal Lesions: Can Magnetic Resonance Imaging Help Reduce the Expense?

“…Arthroscopy was used to verify the results. Our data show that the MRI investigation has a higher sensitivity and specificity than reported by previous investigators [10,11,13,22,23].…”

Arthroscopic meniscal repair with an absorbable screw: results and surgical technique

“…MRI images were evaluated by the senior author according to the classification of Reicher et al [34]. Grade I is a homogenously black meniscus (no tear), grade II shows increased signal within the meniscus (tear unlikely), grade III shows linear regions of increased density within the meniscus reaching cartilage surface (definitive tear) and grade IV gross distortion of normal meniscal shape.…”

Percutaneous injections of Platelet rich plasma for treatment of intrasubstance meniscal lesions

“…Ten millilitres of autologous blood was taken from the antecubital vein with the outer syringe and placed into the Arthrex © C I C E d i z i o n i I n t e r n a z i o n a l i the meniscus, the patient was placed in a standardized position and wore a knee splint for reproducible alignment of the leg. Halt of progression was determined when the same grade of meniscal lesion according to Reicher et al 4 was present during follow up examination with same or less size and signal intensity of the lesion. Imaging evaluation was performed in a blinded manner by two independent, experienced radiologists.…”