MRI of the knee: a simplified approach

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee is the most frequently performed musculoskeletal MRI examination and, after initial study with plain radiographs, has supplanted arthrography and arthroscopy as the imaging procedure of choice in the investigation of internal derangement and arthritic disorders of the knee. Knee MRI is a highly accurate, noninvasive procedure that provides exquisite depiction of the soft tissues and bone marrow. In this article a simplified approach to knee MRI is presented, including a practical discussion on the basics of MRI physics, review of the normal anatomy, and illustration of the most commonly encountered pathologic conditions.