Normal MRI Report of the Right Knee Joint
A normal MRI of the right knee joint demonstrates intact ligamentous, meniscal, and cartilaginous structures with no evidence of bone marrow edema, joint effusion, or other pathology. 1, 2
Bone Structures
- Femur, tibia, fibula, and patella: Normal bone marrow signal intensity without evidence of contusions, fractures, or edema
- Articular surfaces: Smooth with normal thickness of articular cartilage
- Subchondral bone: No evidence of edema, cysts, or sclerosis
- Trabecular pattern: Normal throughout all visualized bones
Ligaments
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL): Intact with normal course and signal intensity
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL): Intact with normal course and signal intensity
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL): Intact with normal thickness and signal intensity
- Lateral collateral ligament (LCL): Intact with normal thickness and signal intensity
- Anterolateral ligament: Intact with normal signal intensity
- Posterolateral corner structures: Intact with normal signal intensity
Menisci
- Medial meniscus: Normal triangular morphology with homogeneous low signal intensity
- Lateral meniscus: Normal triangular morphology with homogeneous low signal intensity
- No evidence of tears, degeneration, or abnormal signal extending to the articular surface
Tendons
- Quadriceps tendon: Intact with normal thickness and signal intensity
- Patellar tendon: Intact with normal thickness and signal intensity
- Popliteus tendon: Intact with normal course and signal intensity
- Biceps femoris tendon: Intact with normal signal intensity
Additional Findings
- Joint space: Preserved without narrowing
- Joint fluid: Minimal physiologic fluid without evidence of effusion
- Synovium: Normal thickness without evidence of synovitis
- Hoffa's fat pad: Normal signal intensity without edema
- Popliteal fossa: No evidence of Baker's cyst or other abnormalities
- Muscle groups: Normal signal intensity without evidence of strain or atrophy
Impression
Normal MRI examination of the right knee joint with no evidence of acute or chronic injury to the ligaments, menisci, cartilage, or osseous structures.
Clinical Significance
MRI has excellent diagnostic accuracy for knee pathology with sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 97% for meniscal tears 2, 3. A normal MRI effectively rules out significant internal derangement, with high negative predictive value for ligamentous and meniscal injuries 3, 4. However, it's important to note that incidental meniscal findings can be common in asymptomatic individuals, particularly with increasing age 5.