Knee Mri

MRI ( Magnetic resonance imaging) is often used to help investigate the source of many potential knee problems and conditions. MRI is tremendously helpful when investigating problems of the meniscus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test done with a large machine that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of the knee. There are several conditions of the meniscus that can be seen on a MRI, the most common being a meniscus tear.

A meniscus tear can be seen when either the normal shape of the meniscus is disrupted by an abnormal signal, or if a portion of the meniscus is missing. Normal meniscus appears as black triangles on the MRI images. When a meniscus is torn, the normal triangular appearance is disrupted. The torn portion of the meniscus may also be seen in an abnormal position, often in the center or the knee joint. This may be referred to as a " bucket-handle tear " of the meniscus.

MRI reports commonly use language about " intrasubstance signal " within the meniscus. The normal meniscus has a uniform signal (appearance) on the MRI image. MCL tears rarely are isolated. More commonly, they are associated with other soft tissue injuries of the knee, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and medial meniscal tears (O'Donoghue's unhappy triad).

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