Vol. 2, Issue 2 (2013)

Author(s):
Varababu Y and JG Mathews

Abstract:
Background: Menisci are crucial structures in the knee joint, and accurate measurement of their morphology is vital for diagnosing knee pathologies. MRI is a widely used non-invasive diagnostic tool, but its accuracy in assessing meniscal dimensions compared to cadaveric measurements has not been thoroughly explored. This study aims to compare the morphological and morphometric characteristics of menisci between MRI and cadaveric specimens. Materials and Methods: The study involved 40 adult cadaveric knee specimens and corresponding MRI scans. The morphological variants of the menisci were categorized, and key morphometric measurements (thickness and width) of the anterior, middle, and posterior thirds of the meniscus were recorded. The data were analyzed to identify significant differences between the MRI and cadaveric measurements using statistical tests. Results: The study revealed that MRI measurements of the menisci were consistently larger than those from cadaveric specimens. For the lateral meniscus, the mean thickness of the anterior third measured 4.97 mm on MRI compared to 1.30 mm in cadaveric specimens, and similar trends were observed in other regions. Significant differences in width were also noted, with MRI showing wider dimensions in the anterior and posterior thirds. All differences between MRI and cadaveric measurements were statistically significant (p<0.0001). Conclusion: MRI tends to overestimate the dimensions of meniscal structures compared to cadaveric measurements, particularly in the anterior and posterior regions. These findings emphasize the limitations of MRI in accurately assessing meniscal morphology and suggest that alternative or supplementary diagnostic methods should be considered for more precise evaluation in clinical practice.