Internal disruption of normal meniscus architecture ± mucinous degeneration without extension to articular surface = degeneration
Irregularity of meniscus free edge without linear tear; or amorphous increased signal at free edge = fraying
IMAGING
General Features
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Abram SGF et al: National consensus on the definition, investigation, and classification of meniscal lesions of the knee. Knee. 25(5):834-40, 2018
Tsujii A et al: Age-related changes in the knee meniscus. Knee. 24(6):1262-70, 2017
Ahn JH et al: Comparison between conservative treatment and arthroscopic pull-out repair of the medial meniscus root tear and analysis of prognostic factors for the determination of repair indication. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 135(9):1265-76, 2015
Fischenich KM et al: Effects of degeneration on the compressive and tensile properties of human meniscus. J Biomech. 48(8):1407-11, 2015
McNulty AL et al: Mechanobiology of the meniscus. J Biomech. 48(8):1469-78, 2015
Takahashi K et al: Medial meniscal posterior root/horn radial tears correlate with cartilage degeneration detected by T1ρ relaxation mapping. Eur J Radiol. 84(6):1098-104, 2015
Wang L et al: T1rho MRI at 3T of menisci in patients with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. J Magn Reson Imaging. 41(2):544-9, 2015
Choi JY et al: Posterior medial meniscus root ligament lesions: MRI classification and associated findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 203(6):1286-92, 2014
Howell R et al: Degenerative meniscus: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment options. World J Orthop. 5(5):597-602, 2014
van Tiel J et al: Delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the meniscus (dGEMRIM) in patients with knee osteoarthritis: relation with meniscal degeneration on conventional MRI, reproducibility, and correlation with dGEMRIC. Eur Radiol. 24(9):2261-70, 2014
Li CA et al: Correlation of histological examination of meniscus with MR images: focused on high signal intensity of the meniscus not caused by definite meniscal tear and impact on mr diagnosis of tears. Korean J Radiol. 14(6):935-45, 2013
Hunter D: Degeneration of the meniscus and progression of osteoarthritis. HSS J. 8(1):13-4, 2012
Joseph GB et al: Baseline mean and heterogeneity of MR cartilage T2 are associated with morphologic degeneration of cartilage, meniscus, and bone marrow over 3 years--data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 20(7):727-35, 2012
McWalter EJ et al: UTE T2∗ mapping detects sub-clinical meniscus degeneration. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 20(6):471-2, 2012
Subhas N et al: Accuracy of MRI in the diagnosis of meniscal tears in older patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 198(6):W575-80, 2012
Sun Y et al: Meniscal calcification, pathogenesis and implications. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 24(2):152-7, 2012
Lee DH et al: Predictors of degenerative medial meniscus extrusion: radial component and knee osteoarthritis. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 19(2):222-9, 2011
Zarins ZA et al: Cartilage and meniscus assessment using T1rho and T2 measurements in healthy subjects and patients with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 18(11):1408-16, 2010
Galea A et al: The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging scanning and its influence on management decisions in knee surgery. Arthroscopy. 25(5):473-80, 2009
Low AK et al: Clinical significance of intrasubstance meniscal lesions on MRI. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 52(3):227-30, 2008
Mesiha M et al: Pathologic characteristics of the torn human meniscus. Am J Sports Med. 35(1):103-12, 2007
Jones AO et al: Medial meniscus posterior root attachment injury and degeneration: MRI findings. Australas Radiol. 50(4):306-13, 2006
Sproule JA et al: Altered signal intensity in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus: an MR finding of questionable significance. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 125(4):267-71, 2005
Boya H et al: Clinical and arthroscopic features of meniscal tears and a search for the role of infection in histologically confirmed meniscal mucoid degeneration. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 12(4):294-9, 2004
Fukuta S et al: Prevalence of abnormal findings in magnetic resonance images of asymptomatic knees. J Orthop Sci. 7(3):287-91, 2002
Cothran RL Jr et al: MR imaging of meniscal contusion in the knee. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 177(5):1189-92, 2001
Jerosch J et al: Age-related magnetic resonance imaging morphology of the menisci in asymptomatic individuals. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 115(3-4):199-202, 1996
Peterfy CG et al: "Magic-angle" phenomenon: a cause of increased signal in the normal lateral meniscus on short-TE MR images of the knee. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 163(1):149-54, 1994
Raunest J et al: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopy in the detection of meniscal degenerations: correlation of arthroscopy and MRI with histology findings. Arthroscopy. 10(6):634-40, 1994
Hodler J et al: Degenerative changes of the menisci of the knee. Value of different MR pulse sequences. Acta Radiol. 34(4):404-7, 1993
Kaplan PA et al: MR of the knee: the significance of high signal in the meniscus that does not clearly extend to the surface. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 156(2):333-6, 1991
Hajek PC et al: The high signal intensity meniscus of the knee. Magnetic resonance evaluation and in vivo correlation. Invest Radiol. 22(11):883-90, 1987
Internal disruption of normal meniscus architecture ± mucinous degeneration without extension to articular surface = degeneration
Irregularity of meniscus free edge without linear tear; or amorphous increased signal at free edge = fraying
IMAGING
General Features
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Abram SGF et al: National consensus on the definition, investigation, and classification of meniscal lesions of the knee. Knee. 25(5):834-40, 2018
Tsujii A et al: Age-related changes in the knee meniscus. Knee. 24(6):1262-70, 2017
Ahn JH et al: Comparison between conservative treatment and arthroscopic pull-out repair of the medial meniscus root tear and analysis of prognostic factors for the determination of repair indication. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 135(9):1265-76, 2015
Fischenich KM et al: Effects of degeneration on the compressive and tensile properties of human meniscus. J Biomech. 48(8):1407-11, 2015
McNulty AL et al: Mechanobiology of the meniscus. J Biomech. 48(8):1469-78, 2015
Takahashi K et al: Medial meniscal posterior root/horn radial tears correlate with cartilage degeneration detected by T1ρ relaxation mapping. Eur J Radiol. 84(6):1098-104, 2015
Wang L et al: T1rho MRI at 3T of menisci in patients with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. J Magn Reson Imaging. 41(2):544-9, 2015
Choi JY et al: Posterior medial meniscus root ligament lesions: MRI classification and associated findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 203(6):1286-92, 2014
Howell R et al: Degenerative meniscus: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment options. World J Orthop. 5(5):597-602, 2014
van Tiel J et al: Delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the meniscus (dGEMRIM) in patients with knee osteoarthritis: relation with meniscal degeneration on conventional MRI, reproducibility, and correlation with dGEMRIC. Eur Radiol. 24(9):2261-70, 2014
Li CA et al: Correlation of histological examination of meniscus with MR images: focused on high signal intensity of the meniscus not caused by definite meniscal tear and impact on mr diagnosis of tears. Korean J Radiol. 14(6):935-45, 2013
Hunter D: Degeneration of the meniscus and progression of osteoarthritis. HSS J. 8(1):13-4, 2012
Joseph GB et al: Baseline mean and heterogeneity of MR cartilage T2 are associated with morphologic degeneration of cartilage, meniscus, and bone marrow over 3 years--data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 20(7):727-35, 2012
McWalter EJ et al: UTE T2∗ mapping detects sub-clinical meniscus degeneration. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 20(6):471-2, 2012
Subhas N et al: Accuracy of MRI in the diagnosis of meniscal tears in older patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 198(6):W575-80, 2012
Sun Y et al: Meniscal calcification, pathogenesis and implications. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 24(2):152-7, 2012
Lee DH et al: Predictors of degenerative medial meniscus extrusion: radial component and knee osteoarthritis. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 19(2):222-9, 2011
Zarins ZA et al: Cartilage and meniscus assessment using T1rho and T2 measurements in healthy subjects and patients with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 18(11):1408-16, 2010
Galea A et al: The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging scanning and its influence on management decisions in knee surgery. Arthroscopy. 25(5):473-80, 2009
Low AK et al: Clinical significance of intrasubstance meniscal lesions on MRI. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 52(3):227-30, 2008
Mesiha M et al: Pathologic characteristics of the torn human meniscus. Am J Sports Med. 35(1):103-12, 2007
Jones AO et al: Medial meniscus posterior root attachment injury and degeneration: MRI findings. Australas Radiol. 50(4):306-13, 2006
Sproule JA et al: Altered signal intensity in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus: an MR finding of questionable significance. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 125(4):267-71, 2005
Boya H et al: Clinical and arthroscopic features of meniscal tears and a search for the role of infection in histologically confirmed meniscal mucoid degeneration. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 12(4):294-9, 2004
Fukuta S et al: Prevalence of abnormal findings in magnetic resonance images of asymptomatic knees. J Orthop Sci. 7(3):287-91, 2002
Cothran RL Jr et al: MR imaging of meniscal contusion in the knee. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 177(5):1189-92, 2001
Jerosch J et al: Age-related magnetic resonance imaging morphology of the menisci in asymptomatic individuals. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 115(3-4):199-202, 1996
Peterfy CG et al: "Magic-angle" phenomenon: a cause of increased signal in the normal lateral meniscus on short-TE MR images of the knee. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 163(1):149-54, 1994
Raunest J et al: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopy in the detection of meniscal degenerations: correlation of arthroscopy and MRI with histology findings. Arthroscopy. 10(6):634-40, 1994
Hodler J et al: Degenerative changes of the menisci of the knee. Value of different MR pulse sequences. Acta Radiol. 34(4):404-7, 1993
Kaplan PA et al: MR of the knee: the significance of high signal in the meniscus that does not clearly extend to the surface. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 156(2):333-6, 1991
Hajek PC et al: The high signal intensity meniscus of the knee. Magnetic resonance evaluation and in vivo correlation. Invest Radiol. 22(11):883-90, 1987
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