title: Magnetic resonance tomography of the knee joint.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in terms of sensitivity and specificity using a field strength of <1.0 T (T) versus ≥1.5 T for diagnosing or ruling out knee injuries or knee pathologies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The systematic literature research revealed more than 10,000 references, of which 1598 abstracts were reviewed and 87 full-text articles were retrieved. The further selection process resulted in the inclusion of four systematic reviews and six primary studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences could be identified in the diagnostic performance of low- versus high-field MRI for the detection or exclusion of meniscal or cruciate ligament tears. Regarding the detection or grading of cartilage defects and osteoarthritis of the knee, the existing evidence suggests that high-field MRI is tolerably specific but not very sensitive, while there is literally no evidence for low-field MRI because only a few studies with small sample sizes and equivocal findings have been performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We can recommend the use of low-field strength MRI systems in suspected meniscal or cruciate ligament injuries. This does, however, not apply to the diagnosis and grading of knee cartilage defects and osteoarthritis because of insufficient evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional, Pediatric and Diagnostic Radiology Inselspital, University Hospital, University of Berne, Freiburgstr. 10, CH-3010, Berne, Switzerland, puig1@mac.com.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Yojena Chittazhathu Kurian
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kuruvilla
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: Gottfried
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Endel
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity