Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance (MR) obtained with intra-articular contrast medium in the evaluation of recurrent meniscal tears using low-field extremity-only and high-field whole-body magnets.
Materials and methods: Postoperative standard MR examinations and MR arthrographies of 95 knees were reviewed. Patients experiencing pain and disability after meniscal repair underwent standard MR and MR arthrography (Gadoterate meglumine 0.0025 mmol/ml) on both a 0.2-T and 1.5-T magnet. In 52 of 95 patients, second-look arthroscopy was performed; in the remaining 43 of 95 patients, clinical follow-up was used as the standard of reference. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values as well as accuracy of MRI/MR arthrographic signs as meniscal morphologic changes and the presence of contrast medium tracking into the tear at T1- and T2-weighted sequences in the detection of recurrent meniscal tears were determined.
Results: All MR and MR arthrograpic signs were sensitive in the detection of recurrent tears (range 80-91%). Abnormal meniscal morphology had low specificity [26% (13/50)] for both the 0.2-T and 1.5-T scanner, whereas accuracy was 55% (52/95) and 57% (54/95), respectively. The presence of contrast medium within the meniscus substance on T2-weighted images had higher value of specificity [84% (42/50)] and accuracy [84% (80/95)] by using low field strength magnet than by using high field strength magnet [74% (37/50) and 81% (77/95), respectively]. Whereas, the increased intrameniscal signal intensity extending to the meniscal surface at T1-weighted sequences after intra-articular contrast medium administration had lower specificity and accuracy on 0.2-T images [84% (42/50) and 82% (78/95), respectively] than on 1.5-T images [90% (45/50) and 88% (84/95), respectively].
Conclusion: A diagnosis of recurrent meniscal tear in a previously arthroscopically repaired meniscus can be made both on 0.2-T and 1.5-T magnets on the basis of increased signal on T2-weighted and T1-weighted images in the presence of intra-articular contrast material.