VALUE OF THE CORONAL PLANE IN MRI OF INTERNAL DERANGEMENT OF THE KNEE

Sagittal images usually receive the most scrutiny in the magnetic reso nance evaluation of meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears. We assessed the relative contribution of the coronal view. All knee magne tic resonance examinations performed over a 2-year period that had sur gical confirmation were reviewed with respect to the presence of menis cal and anterior cruciate ligament tears. The appearance of an attenua ted but uninterrupted anterior cruciate ligament was also evaluated. T he coronal and sagittal plane images were evaluated separately. The st udy included 68 medial menisci, 67 lateral menisci, and 71 anterior cr uciate ligaments. The coronal view is especially useful in the evaluat ion of the lateral meniscus. An anterior cruciate ligament that appear s attennated but uninterrupted should be considered intact. The anteri or cruciate ligament may be evaluated on the coronal view. The coronal view should be regarded as similar to the lateral chest radiograph, w hich supplements, but does not replace, the frontal chest radiograph.