Magnetic resonance imaging of meniscal degeneration in torn menisci: a comparison between anterior cruciate ligament deficient knees and stable knees

Signal anomalies observed in magnetic resonance imaging of the intramenisca l tissue adjacent to the tear were compared between stable knees (group 1, 54 menisci) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knees (group 2, 98 menisci). The histological significance of these signal anomalies was al so studied (n = 25). The frequency of intrameniscal signal anomalies adjace nt to the tear was significantly lower in ACL-deficient knees than in ACL-s table knees (P = 0.0022). There was a close cor relation between the imagin g anomalies and the presence of histological lesions (fissures, degeneratio n) within meniscal tissues adjacent to the tear (sensitivity: 0.95, specifi city: 0.60). Our results suggest that the severity of intrameniscal degener ative changes adjacent to the tear are lower in ACL-deficient knees than in ACL-stable knees.