POSTEROLATERAL ASPECT OF THE KNEE - IMPROVED MR-IMAGING WITH A CORONAL OBLIQUE TECHNIQUE

PURPOSE: To determine if angling the coronal plane in magnetic resonan ce (MR) imaging of the knee increases the conspicuity of the posterola teral structures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A coronal oblique MR imaging sequence performed parallel to the popliteal tendon proximally was add ed to our routine study in patient knee examinations. One hundred pati ents (age range, 12-72 years) underwent MR imaging. RESULTS: Coronal o blique images depicted the arcuate ligament in 46%, the fabellofibular ligament in 48%, and the fibular origin of the popliteal muscle in 53 % of the patients, whereas standard coronal images depicted these in 1 0%, 34%, and 8% of the patients, respectively, Sagittal oblique images did not adequately depict these structures. CONCLUSION: Depiction of the structures in the posterolateral aspect of the knee was optimal on coronal oblique images. We advocate obtaining coronal oblique T2-weig hted images in patients with either posterolateral knee pain or suspec ted injury to the posterolateral ligamentous structures.