How I diagnose meniscal tears on knee MRI.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this article is to summarize the literature about the diagnosis of meniscal tears on MRI including the normal appearance of the meniscus and the appearance of the various types of meniscal tears. In addition, I discuss my experience with the causes of errors in the MR diagnosis of meniscal abnormalities and the nuances of meniscal abnormalities that can mimic a meniscal tear.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI is a highly accurate imaging method for diagnosing meniscal tears. To avoid errors in diagnosing meniscal tears, those interpreting MR examinations of the knee need to be aware of the attachments of the menisci and the normal variations in meniscal anatomy that may resemble a meniscal tear. In addition, by being aware of the patterns of meniscal tears, it is easier to diagnose the less common tears.
Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792-3252, USA. adesmet@uwhealth.org
Arthur A
AA
De Smet
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D055815:Young Adult