Abstract

CUNHA, Daniel Leme da; RIBEIRO, Elísio José Salgado  and  DOMINGUES, Romeu Côrtes. Magnetic resonance imaging of knee osteonecrosis: a study of 19 cases. Radiol Bras [online]. 2010, vol.43, n.2, pp. 77-80. ISSN 0100-3984.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-39842010000200005.

OBJECTIVE: To describe epidemiological, clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings of osteonecrosis in the distal femur and proximal tibia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Evaluation of 19 patients (12 women and 7 men), with no previous history of causative factors, with magnetic resonance imaging findings suggestive of osteonecrosis in the tibial plateau or femoral condyle. RESULTS: Osteochondral abnormalities were observed in 63.1% of the cases; in 73.6% of them, such abnormality was associated with ipsilateral meniscal lesion. Also, a significant association with bone marrow edema (grade III in 16 cases) was observed. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging has demonstrated to be a noninvasive method with good sensitivity in the diagnosis of knee osteonecrosis as well as of associated lesions which are most frequently found in women (63% of cases).

Keywords : Osteonecrosis; Magnetic resonance imaging; Subchondral abnormalities.