Evaluation of meniscal lesions by computed tomography, arthrography and arthrotomy

Abstract

Between 1987 and 1990, 46 patients with meniscal symptoms were evaluated clinically, radiologically and operatively. The knees of 46 patients who were suspected to have meniscallesions were evaluated clinically and surgically between April1987 and July 1990. After a thorough clinical examination the knees were examined with high resolution computed tomography and double contrast arthrogaphy. Following these procedures all of them were evaluated by arthrotomy. The arthrograms and CT scans were compared for their display of anatomic and pathologic details. The anatomy of semilunar cartilages and surrounding structures was clearly outlined on CT scans. Double contrast arthrography was helpful in diagnosing some minor meniscallacerations which were hard to see on CT scans. For the evaluation of these methods, at first each of them were evaluated separately, subsequently both methods were evaluated together and compared with the previous results.Double contrast arthrography and CT resulted in a diagnostic accuracy of %80.4 and %71.9 respectively and both of them together %86.8. We conclude that CT scanning and double contrast arthrography are the two complementary metods to demonstrate meniscal tears.