15/04/2025
An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) of the knee joint is a non-invasive imaging technique used to obtain high-resolution, detailed images of the structures within the knee. It is primarily used to assess soft tissues, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bones, and joint abnormalities.IndicationsMRI of the knee may be indicated for: • Suspected meniscal tears • Ligament injuries (e.g., ACL, PCL) • Cartilage damage • Chronic knee pain • Swelling or joint effusion • Fractures not visible on X-ray • Tumors or infections • Pre-surgical planning or post-surgical assessment⸻Anatomy Assessed in Knee MRIKey anatomical structures evaluated include: 1. Bones • Distal femur • Proximal tibia • Patella • Fibula head 2. Articular Cartilage • Femoral condyles • Tibial plateaus • Patellar surface 3. Menisci • Medial meniscus • Lateral meniscus • Assessment for tears, degeneration, or extrusion 4. Ligaments • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) • Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) • Medial collateral ligament (MCL) • Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) 5. Tendons • Quadriceps tendon • Patellar tendon • Popliteus tendon • Hamstring tendons 6. Joint Capsule & Synovium • For synovitis, effusion, or thickening 7. Bursae • Prepatellar, infrapatellar, suprapatellar, etc. 8. Muscles • Quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, and popliteus muscles⸻MRI Sequences Commonly UsedDifferent sequences provide specific types of contrast and detail: 1. T1-Weighted Images • Good for anatomy • Fat appears bright; fluid is dark 2. T2-Weighted Images • Detects fluid and pathology • Fluid, edema, and effusions appear bright 3. Proton Density (PD) with Fat Saturation • Excellent for soft tissue contrast • Helpful for evaluating cartilage and menisci 4. STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery) • Highlights bone marrow edema • Good for detecting occult injuries 5. Gradient Echo or 3D sequences • High-resolution images of cartilage and smaller structures⸻Common Findings in Knee MRI • Meniscal Tears: Horizontal, vertical, radial, bucket handle tears • Ligament Injuries: Partial or complete tears of ACL/PCL/MCL/LCL • Cartilage Lesions: Fissuring, thinning, or delamination • Bone Marrow Edema: Suggests trauma or stress response • Joint Effusion: Seen in trauma, arthritis, or infection • Baker’s Cyst: Fluid collection in the popliteal fossa • Osteoarthritis: Cartilage loss, subchondral cysts, osteophytes • Synovitis: Synovial thickening with enhancement or fluid • Post-Surgical Changes: Grafts, hardware, scar tissue, etc.⸻Clinical UtilityMRI is invaluable in: • Diagnosing causes of pain and instability • Guiding treatment (surgery vs. conservative management) • Monitoring disease progression or response to therapy • Post-operative assessment