What is a meniscal signal?
What is a meniscal signal?
Objective: The presence of intrameniscal signal in contact with the surface is a commonly used criterion for the diagnosis of meniscal tear. This signal presumably represents the actual tear in the meniscus.
What is a Grade 2 signal posterior horn of the medial meniscus?
Grade 2 meniscal changes on MRI are linear signals confined within the meniscus thought to represent areas of meniscal degeneration or intrasubstance tears. It has been reported that in only 10% of cases is a meniscal tear detected during subsequent arthroscopy.
How do I know if my meniscus is severity?
Moderate to severe tears also might cause these symptoms:
- a “pop” in the knee when the tear occurs.
- pain in the center or side of the knee, especially when twisting the knee or squatting.
- swelling and stiffness in the knee that gets worse over the first 2 or 3 days after the injury occurs.
- limited range of motion.
What is Grade 1 signal medial meniscus?
Grade I – Small area of increased signal within the meniscus. Grade II – Linear area of increased signal that does not extend to an articulating surface. Grade III – Abnormal increased signal that reaches the surface or edge of the meniscus.
What affects signal intensity?
The signal intensity on an MR image is governed by many factors including MR hardware, tissue characteristics (such as T1 and T2 relaxation times, proton density, flow and motion), type of pulse sequence, method of K-space filling, reconstruction algorithm and display of grey scale.
What does a normal meniscus look like on MRI?
Normal meniscus should appear as a uniform low-signal (dark) triangular structure in sagittal MRI images. 3: abnormal high signal intensity extends to at least one articular surface (superior or inferior). This type is referred as a definite meniscal tear.
What is the best imaging modality for meniscal injuries?
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is currently the modality of choice for detecting meniscal injuries and planning subsequent treatment.
What are the diagnostic errors associated with meniscal tears?
Occasionally, meniscal tears can be difficult to detect at imaging; however, secondary indirect signs, such as a parameniscal cyst, meniscal extrusion, or linear subchondral bone marrow edema, should increase the radiologist’s suspicion for an underlying tear. Awareness of common diagnostic errors can ensure accurate diagnosis of meniscal tears.
What does normal meniscus look like on proton density images?
High signal intensity not unequivocally contacting surface. Small black line on inferior margin of the meniscus. At arthroscopy the meniscus was normal. It is a misunderstanding that menisci should be homogeneously low in signal intensity on proton-density images.
