[The value of meniscus sonography--a study with reference to clinical and arthroscopic findings]

In a prospective study the sonographic findings of 250 patients were compared with the results of their clinical and arthroscopic examinations, in order to test the value of ultrasonography of the meniscus. At the same time the influence of interfering factors and the value of certain sonographic criteria were investigated. Diagnostic sensitivity of sonography proved to be 71% for the medial meniscus and 85% for the lateral meniscus. The division into parts made us realize that there was a high rate of errors. Sonography did not provide us with an essentially greater degree of information, except in certain cases such as ganglions, for example. Errors in diagnosis were evident in radial tears and in certain parts of the meniscus (Pars intermedia, Pars anterior and lateral meniscus). There is insufficient imaging especially in radial tears and cases of adiposis and osteoarthritis.