What is the appearance of the normal menisci on MRI? The menisci are crescent-shaped structures within the joint at the medial and lateral aspects of the superior tibial articular surface. They are composed mainly of fibrocartilage and are low in signal intensity on all imaging sequences. On sagittal images, the menisci appear as bow tie–shaped …
What sequences are typically included in a routine MRI of the knee? Routine knee MRI typically includes: • Sagittal fat-suppressed proton density (PD)-weighted and fat-suppressed T2-weighted images. • Coronal T1-weighted and fat-suppressed T2-weighted images. • Axial fat-suppressed T2-weighted images.
What are the causes of greater trochanteric pain syndrome? Pain localizing to the lateral aspect of the hip is usually due to greater femoral trochantic bursitis or abductor tendon abnormalities, both often caused by repetitive hip flexion in middle-aged and elderly patients and indistinguishable clinically. MRI findings are more specific than clinical signs, and can …
What causes a paralabral cyst, and how can MRI help determine if a juxtaarticular cyst is paralabral? Paralabral cysts form as a result of a labral tear, either traumatic or degenerative in nature, and may communicate with the tear anywhere along the labrum. The tears most commonly affect the anterior labrum, while the cysts are …
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What is femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), and why is it important to recognize? FAI is a result of abnormal mechanical contact between the bony prominences of the acetabulum and proximal femur during hip motion, resulting in labral and cartilage tears, and leading to premature osteoarthritis. Multiple developmental and acquired hip disorders, in which there is a …
What is the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions around the hip joint? Cystic lesions around the hip joint may occur in both intra- and extraosseous structures and appear as well-marginated smooth or lobulated lesions with or without internal septations demonstrating fluid signal intensity on all imaging sequences. Common intraosseous cystic lesions include paralabral cysts, subchondral …
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How are stress and insufficiency fractures diagnosed on MRI? The most sensitive MR imaging sequences for demonstrating these injuries are fluid-sensitive ones, in which both stress and insufficiency fractures appear as linear low signal intensity foci surrounded by high signal intensity bone marrow edema. These fractures can be complete (involving the entire circumference of the …
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