MR imaging of the normal knee.

The knees of 11 volunteers were examined by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The imaging was done with a 0.15 T resistive magnet using spin-echo pulse sequences. Normal anatomy was well displayed. The visualized structures included the menisci, cruciate ligaments, articular cartilage, cortical and cancellous bone, muscles, tendons, subcutaneous and intraarticular fat, and blood vessels. To obtain optimal visualization of the anterior cruciate ligaments, various positionings of the subjects and angulation of the imaging planes were tried. Rotation of the sagittal scanning plane away from the longitudinal axis of the body was found to be most satisfactory. The results obtained so far are very promising and demonstrate the real potential of MR imaging in the knee, which we believe lies in its ability to visualize the menisci and cruciate ligaments without use of contrast agents.