Radiology, Vol 196, 47-50, Copyright © 1995 by Radiological Society of North America
Meniscal ossicle: radiographic and MR imaging findings
P Schnarkowski, PF Tirman, KD Fuchigami, JV Crues, MG Butler and HK Genant
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
PURPOSE: To determine the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of
meniscal ossicles and correlate that with the radiographic and clinical
features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiographs and MR images were studied
retrospectively in six patients with meniscal ossicles; all patients had
intermittent discomfort in the knee, and five patients had experienced knee
trauma. Imaging findings were correlated with the clinical history. Four
patients underwent arthroscopy. RESULTS: All patients had a visible ossicle
on conventional radiographs initially interpreted as a loose joint body. MR
imaging features included a corticated marrow-containing structure within
the substance of the medial meniscus near the tibial attachment that
appeared as a rounded focus of increased signal intensity on T1-weighted
images that decreased in signal intensity on T2-weighted images.
CONCLUSION: Meniscal ossicles have a characteristic MR appearance that may
help distinguish them from loose bodies. They should be considered
diagnostically when a circumscribed ossification is identified near the
posterior horn of the medial meniscus on radiographs.
