Traumatic Meniscus and Cruciate Ligament Tears in Young Patients: A Comparison of 3T Versus 1.5T MRI

To compare diagnosis value of 1.5T and 3T MRI in the detection of traumatic knee injuries in young patients by reference to arthroscopy.

One hundred patients were prospectively included. All patients randomly underwent standardized knee 1.5T or 3T MRI with subsequent knee arthroscopy. Meniscus and cruciate ligaments tears were blindly assessed by two independent musculoskeletal radiologists.

Comparison of 1.5T and 3T MRI groups in the diagnosis of medial and lateral meniscal tears showed significantly higher sensitivity (p = 0.015) of 1.5T MRI in the diagnosis of lateral meniscal tears. Sensitivity and specificity for complete ACL tears were 100 percent [35/35] and 100 percent [23/23] at 1.5T MRI (p = < 0.0001) versus 95.5 percent [21/22] and 100 percent [16/16] at 3T MRI (p = < 0.0001).Only three complete PCL tears were observed in this study. Sensitivity and specificity for all complete CL tears were 100 percent [37/37]; 100 percent [77/77] for 1.5T MRI (p < 0.0001); and 95.7 percent [22/23] and 100 percent [59/59] for 3-T MRI (p < 0.0001). Diagnosis value of 1.5T and 3T MRI was equal for ACL and PCL complete tears.

Diagnosis value of 1.5T was similar to 3T MRI for medial meniscal and cruciate ligament tears of the knee in symptomatic patients and higher for lateral meniscal tears.