Meniscal abnormalities in the asymptomatic population at MR imaging.

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Abstract
Two hundred eighty meniscal horns in 64 asymptomatic volunteers in the 2nd to 8th decades of life were analyzed for meniscal abnormalities. Grade 1, 2, and 3 changes were present in essentially all decades. There was at least a 25% prevalence of meniscal signal abnormalities as early as the 2nd decade. The prevalence of meniscal abnormalities increased sharply with age. The prevalence of all signal abnormalities correlated with age, grade 2 changes haivng the highest correlation coefficient (+.88). The correlation coefficient for grades 1 and 3 changes were +.60 and +.71, respectively. THe posterior horn of the medial meniscus had a significantly higher (P < .02) prevalence of abnormalities than did the other meniscal locations. There was no significant correlation between subject weight or sex and meniscal signal. The authors conclude that there is a base-line prevalence of meniscal signal in the asymptomatic population.