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MR imaging of the knee: incidental osseous lesions
Mark J Kransdorf1, Jeffrey J Peterson, Laura W Bancroft
1Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA. kransdorf.mark@mayo.edu
Abstract:
The knee joint remains the articulation most frequently assessed by MR imaging, and osseous tumor and tumor-like lesions are not uncommon incidental imaging findings. This article reviews the most commonly encountered incidental lesions, emphasizing the characteristic MR imaging features. It is intended not as a complete review of the imaging findings associated with these lesions but as a summary, highlighting the MR imaging features that are most useful in suggesting a specific diagnosis. The authors organize incidental lesions into the following broad categories: cartilaginous, fibro-osseous, and degenerative. They do not address those lesions that are typically symptomatic and, as a result, likely to be directly related to the patients' clinical presentation and subsequent imaging.
Insights
This review highlights common incidental bone lesions found in knee MRIs, focusing on key imaging features for diagnosis. It categorizes these findings to aid radiologists in identifying non-symptomatic abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Orthopedic Imaging
- Oncology
Background:
- Knee joint magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is frequently performed.
- Osseous tumors and tumor-like lesions are common incidental findings during knee MRIs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review commonly encountered incidental osseous lesions in the knee.
- To emphasize characteristic MR imaging features for diagnosis.
- To categorize lesions into cartilaginous, fibro-osseous, and degenerative types.
Main Methods:
- Review of common incidental knee lesions.
- Emphasis on characteristic MR imaging features.
- Categorization of lesions: cartilaginous, fibro-osseous, and degenerative.
Main Results:
- Identification of common incidental osseous lesions in knee MRIs.
- Description of characteristic MR imaging features for each lesion type.
- Categorization aids in differential diagnosis of non-symptomatic findings.
Conclusions:
- MR imaging is crucial for identifying incidental knee lesions.
- Understanding characteristic features aids in diagnosis.
- Categorization provides a framework for evaluating these findings.
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