Objectives:

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic value of ultrasonography (US), that has not been widely accepted, easy accessible, cheap and non-invasive method and routinely used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of the soft tissue pathologies of the knee.

Methods:

Eighty patients who were admitted to the Orthopaedics and Traumatology Clinics with knee pain were examined with US. Seventy two (%90) of these patients also had MRI scans of the knee joint. The results were compared.

Results:

Of these 80 patients, 45 were female (%56,25) and 35 were male (%43,75). The mean age was 43,4 (11-72). US examination results were in normal limits in 13 cases (%16,2), however MRI revealed only 4 (% 5) patients as normal. The most common pathology that was detected both by US and MRI was, joint effusion. Meniscal degeneration and tears were the second most common accompanying lesions to joint effusions detected by MRI. Except determination of meniscal and ACL lesions and small amount of fluid in the tibiofemoral joint space, the diagnostic value of US was nearly same with MRI. By US, internal architecture of Baker cysts, synovial thickening and patellar tendon pathologies could be recognized better.

Conclusions::

In conclusion, US is a cheap, easy accessible device. It has the advantages of real time imaging, comperative examination with the contralateral extremity, the capability of dynamic imaging of children for the possibility of performing the examination without sedation. Because of these, it is so useful in the evaluation of the patients for whom MRI couldn’t be performed and would be supportive for the diagnosis in experienced hands.

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