title: Linear signal hyperintensity adjacent to the subchondral bone plate at the knee on T2-weighted fat-saturated sequences: imaging aspects and association with structural lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the association between linear T2 signal abnormalities in the subchondral bone and structural knee lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  MR studies of patients referred for the evaluation of knee pain were retrospectively evaluated and 133 of these patients presented bone marrow edema pattern (BMEP) (study group) and while 61 did not (control group). The presence of linear anomalies of the subchondral bone on T2-weighted fat-saturated sequences was evaluated. The findings were correlated to the presence of structural knee lesions and to the duration of the patient's symptoms. Histologic analysis of a cadaveric specimen was used for anatomic correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Linear T2 hyperintensities at the subchondral bone were present in 41% of patients with BMEP. None of the patients in the control group presented this sign. When a subchondral linear hyperintensity was present, the prevalence of radial or root tears was high and that of horizontal tears was low (71.4 and 4.8%, respectively). Sixty-nine percent of the patients with a subchondral insufficiency fracture presented a subchondral linear hyperintensity. It was significantly more prevalent in patients with acute or sub-acute symptoms (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The studied linear T2 hyperintensity is located at the subchondral spongiosa and can be secondary to local or distant joint injuries. Its presence should evoke acute and sub-acute knee injuries. This sign is closely related to subchondral insufficiency fractures and meniscal tears with a compromise in meniscal function.
authors.affiliation: Service D'imagerie Guilloz, CHU Hôpital Central, 29, Av Marechal Lattre de Tassigny, 54035, Nancy, France, ped_gt@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Pedro Augusto
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gondim Teixeira
authors.forename: Clémence
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balaj
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lecocq
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blum
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D055815:Young Adult