Computed tomography of the knee with reference to meniscal tears. A prospective blind investigation.

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) with a high resolution CT scanner and--on a special occasion--double contrast arthrography of the knee with reference to meniscal tears were performed in 50 patients. Operation or arthroscopy was performed in 28 patients and 15 were found to have meniscal tears. A correct diagnosis of the tears was achieved at CT in 13 of these patients. Three false positive and two false negative CT findings were recorded, resulting in a 91 per cent accuracy for CT, a diagnostic specificity of 84 per cent, and a sensitivity of 95 per cent. The diagnostic value of CT thus compared with that of double contrast arthrography. This should indicate that CT may be used as an alternative non-invasive diagnostic procedure in the diagnosis of meniscal tears of the knee joint.