Seun Ah Lee MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sang Hoon Lee, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Myung Jin Shin MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hye Won Chung MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Min Hee Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the meniscus morphology after meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) and to investigate the correlation between meniscal morphology and T2 map.

Total 28 patients (18 males, 10 females; mean age, 34 years) undergoing MAT who were available for follow-up MRI evaluation for 6 months (immediate, 1 month, 3 month and 6 months follow-up) were included in this study, consisting of 22 and 6 cases of lateral and medial meniscus transplants, respectively. Meniscus was divided into 7 zones - anterior horn (zone 1, 2), body (zone 3, 4, 5), and posterior horn (zone 6, 7). Meniscal morphology was classified as normal, degeneration (grade1: focal or linear increased signal, grade 2: peripheral increased signal and grade 3: globular increased signal with intact meniscal margin), deformity, and tear at each meniscal zone, and evaluated with each zonal distribution. T2 maps of each zone were calculated and correlated with morphology.

According to 6 months follow-up MR after MAT, meniscal morphology of each zone showed normal (38.3%), grade 1 degeneration (11.2%), grade 2 degeneration (25.5%), grade 3 degeneration (15.8%), deformity (4.6%) and tear (4.6%). Deformity and tear were more frequently demonstrated in the anterior (55.9%, 44.4%) and posterior horn (33.3%, 33.3%) than the body (11.1%, 22.2%). On serial follow-up MR, mean T2 maps of each morphology were normal; 16.9 (n=499), grade 1, 2, 3 degeneration; 27.4 (n=81), 28.6 (n=100), 30.4 (n=74), deformity; 36.2 (n=17), and tear; 52.1 (n=13), respectively. The T2 map of abnormal meniscus differed from normal meniscus, showing increased T2 values after degeneration, deformity, and tears (p < 0.01).

Deformity or tear of allografts frequently occurred in the anterior and posterior horns than the body of meniscus at 6 months follow-up MR after MAT. T2 map could help assess morphologic change of allografts.

T2 MAP can provide accurate assessment of morphologic change of allografts and differentiate deformity or tear from normal or degeneration.

Lee, S, Lee, S, Shin, M, Chung, H, Lee, M, Evaluation of Meniscal Allografts Using T2 Map: Correlation with Meniscal Morphology.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12043613.html