title: Three Tesla MRI for the diagnosis of meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament pathology: a comparison to arthroscopic findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the accuracy of 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one consecutive patients were identified who were referred for evaluation of suspected intra-articular pathology with a 3T MRI and who, subsequently, underwent an arthroscopic procedure of the knee were included for the study. Two musculoskeletal radiologists interpreted the images. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were then calculated for the MRI versus the arthroscopic findings as a reference standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity and specificity for the overall detection of meniscal tears in this study was 84 and 93%, respectively. The results for the medial meniscus separately were 91 and 93% and for the lateral 77 and 93%. The evaluation of ACL integrity was 100% sensitive and specific. The meniscal tear type was correctly identified in 75% of cases and its location in 94%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates good results of 3T MRI in the evaluation of the injured knee. Caution should still be given to the interpretation on MRI of a lateral meniscus tear, and it is suggested that the standard diagnostic criteria of high signal reaching the articular surface on two consecutive image sections be adhered to even at these higher field strengths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sports Surgery Clinic, Santry Demesne, Dublin, Ireland. allymattsampson@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shine
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Eustace
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries