47-year-old male. Left knee pain and swelling with mechanical symptoms. Evaluate for meniscus tear. Due to the patient's body habitus, a high-resolution knee coil could not be used. An alternative coil was used instead which results in slightly suboptimal image quality.MENISCI: There is marked attenuation of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus compared to that on the prior study, which may reflect either partial meniscectomy or interval tearing. The root of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus is not well visualized, likely reflecting a chronic tear, as the root was not visualized on the prior study. Increased signal intensity along the undersurface of the remaining posterior horn could either represent additional tearing or residual degenerative signal in the meniscus following meniscectomy. There is extrusion of the body of the medial meniscus more so than that seen on the prior study with intrasubstance signal suggesting mucoid degeneration. The lateral meniscus is intact.ARTICULAR CARTILAGE AND BONE: Moderate degeneration of the articular cartilage of the weight-bearing portion of the medial tibiofemoral compartment with foci of near full thickness to full-thickness degeneration. Small foci of low signal intensity within the articular cartilage may reflect prior microfracture. There is degeneration of the articular cartilage of the lateral femoral condyle just anterior to the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus with small osteophytes. Small foci of signal abnormality within the articular cartilage of the patella and femoral trochlea suggests focal degeneration/tearing, similar to the prior study. The bone marrow signal intensity appears normal. Tricompartmental osteophytes have progressed slightly compared to the prior study.LIGAMENTS: The cruciate and collateral ligaments are intact.EXTENSOR MECHANISM: The extensor mechanism is intact.ADDITIONAL
1. Limited study, as described above.2. Medial meniscus abnormality, as described above, that may simply reflect a combination of old tearing and interval partial meniscectomy but we cannot exclude the possibility of a new tear on the basis of this study.3. Progression of osteoarthritic changes particularly affecting the medial tibiofemoral compartment.