Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39344165›Full record

ArticleArthritis care & research2025

Prevalence of Clinically Relevant Findings on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Middle-Aged Adults With Knee Pain and Suspected Meniscal Tear: A Follow-Up.

Lily M Waddell, Maame B Opare-Addo, Nehal Shah, Kelly Jordan, Leslie J Bisson, James J Irrgang, Antonia F Chen, Omar Musbahi, Lindsey A MacFarlane, Morgan H Jones and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Arthritis care & research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Lily M WaddellBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0009-0001-1884-643X
Maame B Opare-AddoBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Nehal ShahBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Kelly JordanState University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
Leslie J BissonState University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
James J IrrgangUniversity of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Antonia F ChenBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Omar MusbahiBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Lindsey A MacFarlaneBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0001-8398-3804
Morgan H JonesBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0002-5466-0624
Faith SelzerBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Jeffrey N KatzBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Stacy E SmithBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0003-3308-3618

Funding

Treatment of Meniscal Problems in Osteoarthritis: TeMPOU01AR071658 · NIAMS · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI KATZ, JEFFREY NEIL · 2017 to 2022
$4.1M
The Role of Inflammation in Knee OsteoarthritisK23AR080206 · NIAMS · DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK CLINIC · PI Lindsey A. MacFarlane · 2022 to 2026
$786k
NIAMS NIH HHS K23 AR080206NIAMS NIH HHS K23AR080206NIAMS NIH HHS U01 AR071658NIAMS NIH HHS U01AR071658US-UK Fulbright Commission
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveRadiographs are frequently obtained for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reserved for those with complex KOA. There are few data on how often subsequent MRI reveals clinically actionable but unanticipated findings. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of these findings on MRI for patients managed nonoperatively for suspected meniscal tears.

methodsThe Treatment of Meniscal Problems and Osteoarthritis (TeMPO) study enrolled patients aged 45 to 85 years with knee pain, osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence [KL] grades 0-3), and suspected meniscal tear. We reviewed baseline MRI and recorded notable findings, including subchondral insufficiency fractures of the knee (SIFKs), avascular necrosis (AVN), tumors, and nonsubchondral fractures. Other baseline data included demographic characteristics, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, duration of knee symptoms, and KL grade.

resultsStudy-ordered MRI was performed on 760 patients, with 61 concerning findings identified (8.03%, 95% confidence interval 6.09%-9.96%). A total of 25 participants had SIFKs, 10 had nonsubchondral fractures, 4 had AVN, 8 had benign tumors, and 14 had other clinically relevant findings.

conclusionWe estimated the prevalence of clinically relevant incidental findings on MRI to be 8.03% in middle-aged adults with mild to moderate KOA and suspected meniscal tear. These data may prompt clinicians to be more aware of the range of findings that can underlie knee symptoms, some of which could change management but may require different modalities of imaging to detect. Future research is needed to pinpoint factors associated with these concerning findings so that patients who are at risk can be identified and referred for advanced imaging.

Indexed as

ArthralgiaIncidental FindingsMagnetic Resonance ImagingOsteoarthritis, KneeTibial Meniscus InjuriesAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalence

Identifiers

PMID39344165
PMCPMC11932787

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.