Extremity-dedicated low-field MRI shows good diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement for the diagnosis of the acutely injured knee

Clin Imaging. 2015 Sep-Oct;39(5):871-5. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.05.012. Epub 2015 May 27.

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement of extremity-dedicated low-field magnetic resonance imaging (lfMRI) for meniscal tears, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and knee fractures.

Methods: We enrolled 62 patients with acute knee trauma and 19 patients with suspected knee fracture. Arthroscopy/Computed tomography was regarded the gold standard for cruciate ligament and meniscal tears/fractures.

Results: Arthroscopy showed 39 meniscal tears. Sensitivity/Specificity of lfMRI was 95.8%/97.4% (reader 1)/100%/100% (reader 2) for medial and 93.3%/100% (reader 1)/93.3%/93.6% (reader 2) for lateral meniscal tears. Sensitivity/Specificity was 100% for ACL tears and fractures. Interobserver agreement was very good.

Conclusion: lfMRI showed reproducible high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of the acutely injured knee.

Keywords: Cruciate ligament tear; Extremity; Low-field MRI; Meniscal tear.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries*
  • Arthroscopy
  • Child
  • Female
  • Fractures, Bone / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Knee Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Knee Joint / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tibial Meniscus Injuries*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Young Adult