title: MRI high-signal intensity in the menisci of asymptomatic children.
abstract: We reviewed retrospectively the MRI examinations of 108 knees of 80 children to identify the prevalence of a high signal in the menisci of those without symptoms. There were 51 boys and 29 girls with a mean age of 12.2 years (8 to 15). The prevalence of a high signal within the menisci was 66%, significantly higher than that in an adult group (29%). The prevalence decreased with age: grade-2 and grade-3 changes were observed in 80% of menisci at ten years of age, in 65% at 13 years and in 35% at 15 years. The prevalence of high signals also decreased with increased skeletal maturity at the knee. We emphasise the importance of awareness of the high prevalence of a high signal intensity in the menisci of children, especially in early adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashiwaguchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001846:Bone Development; D002648:Child; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology*; D010012:Osteogenesis; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology