[Nuclear magnetic tomography of the meniscus in asymptomatic probands]

In 82 asymptomatic subjects aged 8-62 years we evaluated the menisci by MRI [1.0 tesla; SE (spin-echo) 700/20, PS (partial saturation) 500/10, STIR (Short-Time-Inversion-Recovery-Sequence) 1600/130/30]. The meniscus was graded by means of a standard classification (grades 0-4). In SE sequences we found grade 0 in 45.5% of all cases, grade 1 in 33.2%, grade 2 in 16.1%, grade 3 in 4.5%, and grade 4 in 0.7%. In PS sequences we found grade 0 in 23.9%, grade 1 in 27.5%, grade 2 in 31.5%, grade 3 in 15.9%, and grade 4 in 1.1%. In STIR sequences we found grade 0 in 56%, grade 1 in 25.4%, grade 2 in 11.1%, grade 3 in 6%, and grade 4 in 1.6%. Correlation of meniscus degeneration with subjects' age showed relation of meniscus degeneration with subjects' age showed relation of meniscus degeneration with subjects' age showed an increase of grade 3 and grade 4 lesions with advancing age. Subjects older than 50 years presented grade 3 and 4 lesions in the SE sequence in 28.5% of the cases, in PS sequences in 40.7% of the cases, and in STIR sequences in 25% of the cases. MRI shows meniscal lesions in a significant proportion of asymptomatic patients, especially among subjects older than 50 years. The orthopedic surgeon has to test whether the clinical findings in patients with knee complaints coincide with the results of MRI.