MR imaging of meniscal tears: comparison of intermediate-weighted FRFSE imaging with intermediate-weighted FSE imaging.

PURPOSE: We compared intermediate-weighted fast spin-echo (IW-FSE) images with intermediate-weighted fast-recovery FSE (IW-FRFSE) images in the diagnosis of meniscal tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, 64 patients were recruited, and the arthroscopic findings (n = 40) and image analysis (n = 19) identified 59 torn menisci with 36 patients. Both the diagnostic performance and image quality in assessing meniscal tears was evaluated for IW-FSE and IW-FRFSE images using a four-point scale. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) calculation was performed for both sets of images. RESULTS: IW-FRFSE image specificity (100 %) for diagnosing the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (MM) tear with reader 1 was significantly higher than that of IW-FSE images (90 %). Mean ratings of the contrast between the lesion and normal signal intensity within the meniscus were significantly higher for the IW-FRFSE image ratings than the IW-FSE images in most meniscal tears. Mean SNRs were significantly higher for IW-FSE images than for IW-FRFSE images (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IW-FRFSE imaging can be used as an alternative to the IW-FSE imaging to evaluate meniscal tears.

Relationship between the trochlear groove angle and patellar cartilage morphology defined by 3D spoiled gradient-echo imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the femoral trochlear groove angle (TGA) is a determinant of the patellar cartilage volume and patellar cartilage damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patellar cartilage was evaluated by MR imaging in 66 patients (22 males and 44 females) with knee pain. Fat-suppressed 3D spoiled gradient-echo images were used to calculate the cartilage volume and to grade the cartilage damage. The proximal and distal TGAs were measured from axial PD-weighted FSE MR images with fat suppression. RESULTS: For every increase in the TGA at the distal femur, the patellar cartilage volume was significantly increased by 6.07 × 10(-3) cm(3) (95% CI: 1.27 × 10(-3), 10.9 × 10(-3)) after adjustment for age, gender, and patellar bone volume (P < 0.05). The MR grade of medial patellar cartilage damage progressed as the distal TGA became narrower, although there was no significant correlation between the distal TGA and the MR grading of patellar cartilage damage. CONCLUSION: A more flattened distal TGA was associated with increased patellar cartilage volume. However, there was no association between TGA and patellar cartilage defects.

Relationship between cartilage volume using MRI and Kellgren-Lawrence radiographic score in knee osteoarthritis with and without meniscal tears.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the correlation between the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) radiographic score and the femoral and tibial cartilage volumes determined by MRI in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The effect of meniscal tears and extrusion on the cartilage volume was also examined. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Knee cartilage was evaluated by MRI in 74 patients (20 men and 54 women) who were categorized according to the KL score. Sagittal fat-suppressed 3D spoiled gradient-echo images were obtained to calculate the cartilage volume. The cartilage volume was determined for the lateral femoral cartilage, medial femoral cartilage, lateral tibial cartilage, and medial tibial cartilage. The femoral condylar bone volume was measured to adjust for bone size in each cartilage volume measurement. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, and femoral condylar bone volume, the cartilage volumes were significantly different between the grades in all compartments. Additionally, significant correlations were observed between the KL score and the adjusted cartilage volumes of lateral femoral cartilage and lateral tibial cartilage without a meniscal tear and between the KL score and the adjusted cartilage volume of medial femoral cartilage with and without a meniscal tear. CONCLUSION: These findings showed a significant negative association between cartilage volume and the KL score. The cartilage volume of medial femoral cartilage may be more affected by the severity of osteoarthritis grade than the presence of a meniscal tear. In contrast, the cartilage volume in the lateral tibiofemoral compartment may be easily affected by the presence of a meniscal tear.