Knee MRI

MRI of the knee joint at 3 Tesla, evaluating menisci, cruciate and collateral ligaments, articular cartilage, and surrounding soft tissues. The high-resolution 3T imaging is well-suited to detecting meniscal tears, ACL injuries, cartilage defects, and bone marrow oedema that may be subtle on lower-field systems.

Knee MRI is one of the most common diagnostic imaging examinations performed at Medicover Hospital, reflecting the high prevalence of sports injuries and degenerative joint disease in the referral population. The 3T Magnetom 3 Neo scanner provides the spatial resolution needed to visualise the fine internal structures of the knee — particularly the menisci, where tear morphology (horizontal, vertical, radial, complex) directly influences whether conservative management or arthroscopic surgery is appropriate. The protocol includes proton-density fat-saturated sequences that are highly sensitive to meniscal tears and cartilage lesions, T2-weighted sequences for ligament assessment, and gradient-echo imaging for detecting loose bodies and chondral defects. The anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and lateral collateral ligament complex are all systematically evaluated. Bone marrow oedema patterns provide additional diagnostic information — for example, the classic pivot-shift pattern of marrow oedema on the lateral femoral condyle and posterolateral tibial plateau is strongly suggestive of ACL rupture. At 3T, these subtle signal changes are more reliably detected than on 1.5T systems. Hip, shoulder, ankle, elbow, wrist, hand, and foot MRI are all available at the same 1,040 PLN price point, allowing multi-joint assessment when clinically indicated.