[Experimental study of meniscus lesions. Significance of 3-dimensional ultrasonography]

The clinical value of two-dimensional ultrasound in examining the menisci of the knee compared to other methods is controversial. We studied the utility diagnosed by three-dimensional sonography in evaluating meniscal tears.

96 menisci with standardised artificial lesions were examined in a bath of Ringer solution. Two-dimensional ultrasound was compared to three-dimensional ultrasound, which creates three-dimensional reconstruction of sequential ultrasonographic images.

The three-dimensional ultrasound had a higher sensitivity of 88% vs 69% with a specificity of 83% vs 94% for the diagnosis of meniscal tears compared with the two-dimensional method. The sensitivity in imaging was 54% in each case for longitudinal tears, 63% vs 96% for horizontal tears, 67% vs 37% for oblique tears and 54% vs 0% for radial tears. The difference of these results, however, was not statistically significant. Radial tears were more frequently diagnosed by three-dimensional sonography.

In our model, sonographic diagnosis of meniscal tears was improved only partially by using three-dimensional ultrasound. Whether in vivo other factors alter the minimal differences between the two techniques is the subject of ongoing investigation.