Background: Knee pain is a common complaint among individuals, and accurate
diagnosis of the underlying pathology is essential for appropriate management.
Ultrasonography has emerged as a promising imaging modality for evaluating knee
pathologies due to its accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and real-time imaging capabilities.
This study aimed to compare ultrasonography with true fast imaging with steady state
precession MRI images in assessment of femoro-trochlear cartilage in anterior knee pain.
Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included patients with anterior knee
pain. Complete history taking, general clinical examination, and NPRS assessment- were
performed. Ultrasonography of the affected knee joint was conducted using a linear probe
(7-12 MHz Logiq P5). Subsequently, true fast imaging with steady state precession MRI
images of the same patients- was analyzed. Results: The study included patients with a
mean age of 34.85 years, with 57.7% being females. Ultrasonography and MRI findings
were categorized based on severity and associated features. Positive and negative
predictive values, as well as sensitivity and specificity- were calculated for each finding.
The results demonstrated significant agreement between ultrasonography and MRI
findings, with notable sensitivity and specificity values for most categories. Conclusion:
The study revealed that ultrasonography and MRI exhibit distinct strengths in detecting
femorotrochlear cartilage abnormalities. Ultrasonography demonstrated high positive
predictive values in most findings, while MRI exhibited excellent specificity. Sensitivity
varied between the two modalities for different cartilage grades. Both techniques
demonstrated overall agreement in identifying cartilage structural changes, albeit with
varying diagnostic performance in specific grades |
