MENISCUS DIAGNOSIS - MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-I MAGING

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an excellent method of examining t he meniscus with an accuracy of about 91-94% for the median meniscus a nd 88.4-100% for the lateral meniscus in T1-weighted images. The preci sion of the diagnosis can be increased to 100% by the use of paramagne tic contrast medium (gadolinium DTPA), as was shown by the evaluation of 170 knee joints. The reason it is difficult to evaluate the meniscu s without contrast medium is a residual meniscus or regenerated menisc us. We are therefore dramatically able to reduce the number of diagnos tic arthroscopies for evaluation of the meniscus.