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Atlas of Knee MRI Anatomy

This webpage presents the anatomical structures found on knee MRI.

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T1 Coronal view - T2-FATSAT Axial view - T2-FATSAT Coronal view - T2-FATSAT Sagittal view

MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 1. 1, Patella. 2, Quadriceps tendon.
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  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 1. 1, Patella. 2, Quadriceps tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 2. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, Patella. 4, Infrapatellar fat pad of Hoffa. 5, Patellar tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 3. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, lateral femoral condyle. 4, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 4. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, Vastus lateralis muscle. 4, Femur. 5, Iliotibial tract. 6, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 5. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Iliotibial tract. 5, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 6. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Medial meniscus, anterior horn. 5, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 7. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Medial meniscus. 5, Lateral meniscus. 6, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 8. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Posterior cruciate ligament. 5, Medial meniscus. 6, Lateral meniscus. 7, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 9. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Posterior cruciate ligament. 5, Medial meniscus. 6, Lateral meniscus. 7, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 10. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Femur. 3, Vastus lateralis muscle. 4, Posterior cruciate ligament. 5, Anterior cruciate ligament. 6, Tibial collateral ligament. 7, Fibular collateral ligament. 8, Medial meniscus. 9, Lateral meniscus. 10, Tibia. 11, Fibula.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 11. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Femur. 3, Vastus lateralis muscle. 4, Tractus ilio-tibial 5, Posterior cruciate ligament. 6, Anterior cruciate ligament. 7, Medial meniscus. 8, Lateral meniscus. 9, Tibia. 10, Fibula.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 12. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Biceps femoris muscle. 4, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Femur. 7, Medial meniscus. 8, Lateral meniscus. 9, Posterior cruciate ligament. 10, Tibia. 11, Fibula.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 13. 1, Sartorius muscle. 2, Vastus medialis muscle. 3, Vastus lateralis muscle. 4, Popliteal a & v. 5, Biceps femoris muscle. 6, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 7, Femur. 8, Medial meniscus. 9, Lateral meniscus. 10, Greater saphenous vein. 11, Tibia. 12, Popliteus muscle. 13, Fibula.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 14. 1, Sartorius muscle. 2, Popliteal a & v. 3, Biceps femoris muscle. 4, Femur. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 7, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 15. 1, Greater saphenous vein. 2, Sartorius muscle. 3, Biceps femoris muscle. 4, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 5, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T1-weighted, coronal view. Image 16. 1, Greater saphenous vein. 2, Sartorius muscle. 3, Semimembranosus muscle. 4, Biceps femoris muscle. 5, Tibial nerve. 6, Common peroneal n. 7, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 8, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 1. 1, Quadriceps tendon. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Vastus medialis muscle. 5, Sartorius muscle. 6, Gracilis muscle. 7, Semitendinosus muscle and tendon. 8, Semimembranosus muscle and tendon. 9, Popliteal a & v. 10, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 2. 1, Quadriceps tendon. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Vastus medialis muscle. 5, Sartorius muscle. 6, Gracilis muscle. 7, Semitendinosus muscle and tendon. 8, Semimembranosus muscle and tendon. 9, Popliteal a & v. 10, Tibial nerve. 11, Common peroneal nerve. 12, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 3. 1, Quadriceps tendon. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Vastus medialis muscle. 5, Sartorius muscle. 6, Gracilis muscle. 7, Semitendinosus muscle and tendon. 8, Semimembranosus muscle and tendon. 9, Popliteal a & v. 10, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 4. 1, Patella. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Vastus medialis muscle. 5, Sartorius muscle. 6, Gracilis muscle. 7, Semitendinosus muscle and tendon. 8, Semimembranosus muscle and tendon. 9, Tibial nerve. 10, Common peroneal nerve. 11, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 5. 1, Patella. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Vastus medialis muscle. 5, Sartorius muscle. 6, Gracilis muscle. 7, Semitendinosus muscle and tendon. 8, Semimembranosus muscle and tendon. 9, Tibial nerve. 10, Common peroneal nerve. 11, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 6. 1, Patella. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Vastus medialis muscle. 5, Sartorius muscle. 6, Gracilis muscle. 7, Semitendinosus muscle and tendon. 8, Semimembranosus muscle and tendon. 9, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 7. 1, Patella. 2, Iliotibial tract. 3, Femur. 4, Vastus medialis muscle. 5, Sartorius muscle. 6, Gracilis tendon. 7, Semimembranosus tendon. 8, Semitendinosus muscle and tendon. 9, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 8. 1, Patella. 2, Iliotibial tract. 3, Femur. 4, Sartorius muscle. 5, Gracilis tendon. 6, Semimembranosus tendon. 7, Semitendinosus tendon. 8, Tibial nerve. 9, Common peroneal nerve. 10, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 9. 1, Patella. 2, Iliotibial tract. 3, Femur. 4, Sartorius muscle. 5, Gracilis tendon. 6, Semimembranosus tendon. 7, Semitendinosus tendon. 8, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 9, Popliteal A & v. 10, Biceps femoris muscle and tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 10. 1, Patella. 2, Femur. 3, Sartorius muscle. 4, Semimembranosus tendon. 5, Semitendinosus tendon. 6, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 7,Popliteal A & v. 8, Biceps femoris muscle and tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 11. 1, Patella. 2, Femur. 3, Sartorius muscle. 4, Semitendinosus tendon. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Popliteal A & v. 7, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 8, Biceps femoris muscle and tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 12. 1, Femur. 2, Greater saphenous vein. 3, Sartorius muscle and tendon. 4, Semitendinosus tendon. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Popliteal A & v. 7, Biceps femoris muscle and tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 13. 1, Femur. 2, Greater saphenous vein. 3, Sartorius muscle and tendon. 4, Semitendinosus tendon. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Biceps femoris muscle and tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 14. 1, Patellar tendon. 2, Infrapatellar fat pad of Hoffa. 3, Lateral femoral condyle. 4, Medial femoral condyle. 5, Greater saphenous vein. 6, Sartorius muscle and tendon. 7, Semitendinosus tendon. 8, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 9, Posterior cruciate ligament. 10, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 11, Biceps femoris muscle and tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 15. 1, Patellar tendon. 2, Infrapatellar fat pad of Hoffa. 3, Lateral femoral condyle. 4, Medial femoral condyle. 5, Greater saphenous vein. 6, Semitendinosus tendon. 7, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 8, Posterior cruciate ligament. 9, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 10, Biceps femoris muscle and tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 16. 1, Patellar tendon. 2, Infrapatellar fat pad of Hoffa. 3, Medial meniscus. 4, Greater saphenous vein. 5, Sartorius muscle and tendon. 6, Semitendinosus tendon. 7, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 8, Posterior cruciate ligament. 9, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 10, Lateral meniscus.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 17. 1, Patellar tendon. 2, Lateral Tibial plateau. 3, Medial Tibial plateau. 4, Greater saphenous vein. 5, Sartorius muscle and tendon. 6, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 7, Plantar and lateral head gastrocnemius muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 18. 1, Patellar tendon. 2, Tibia. 3, Sartorius tendon. 4, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 5, Popliteal a. and v.. 6, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 19. 1, Patellar tendon. 2, Tibia. 3, Sartorius tendon. 4, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 5, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Fibula.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Axial view. Image 20. 1, Patellar tendon. 2, Tibia. 3, Sartorius tendon. 4, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 5, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Fibula.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 1. 1, Patella. 2, Quadriceps tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 2. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, Patella. 4, Infrapatellar fat pad of Hoffa. 5, Patellar tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 3. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, lateral femoral condyle. 4, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 4. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, Vastus lateralis muscle. 4, Femur. 5, Iliotibial tract. 6, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 5. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Iliotibial tract. 5, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 6. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Medial meniscus, anterior horn. 5, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 7. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Medial meniscus. 5, Lateral meniscus. 6, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 8. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Medial meniscus. 5, Lateral meniscus. 6, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 9. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Femur. 4, Posterior cruciate ligament. 5, Medial meniscus. 6, Lateral meniscus. 7, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 10. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Femur. 3, Vastus lateralis muscle. 4, Posterior cruciate ligament. 5, Anterior cruciate ligament. 6, Tibial collateral ligament. 7, Fibular collateral ligament. 8, Medial meniscus. 9, Lateral meniscus. 10, Tibia. 11, Fibula.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 11. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Femur. 3, Vastus lateralis muscle. 4, Tractus ilio-tibial 5, Posterior cruciate ligament. 6, Anterior cruciate ligament. 7, Medial meniscus. 8, Lateral meniscus. 9, Tibia. 10, Fibula.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 12. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Vastus lateralis muscle. 3, Biceps femoris muscle. 4, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Femur. 7, Medial meniscus. 8, Lateral meniscus. 9, Posterior cruciate ligament. 10, Tibia. 11, Fibula.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 13. 1, Sartorius muscle. 2, Vastus medialis muscle. 3, Vastus lateralis muscle. 4, Popliteal a & v. 5, Biceps femoris muscle. 6, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 7, Femur. 8, Medial meniscus. 9, Lateral meniscus. 10, Greater saphenous vein. 11, Tibia. 12, Popliteus muscle. 13, Fibula.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 14. 1, Sartorius muscle. 2, Popliteal a & v. 3, Biceps femoris muscle. 4, Femur. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle. 7, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 15. 1, Sartorius muscle. 3, Biceps femoris muscle. 3, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 4, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Coronal view. Image 16. 1, Sartorius muscle. 2, Semimembranosus muscle. 3, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 1. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Femur 3, Medial meniscus. 4, Tibia. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Gracilis tendon. 7, Gracilis muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 2. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Femur 3, Medial meniscus. 4, Tibia. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Semitendinosus tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 3. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Femur. 3, Medial meniscus, anterior horn. 4, Medial tibial plateau. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Medial meniscus, posterior horn. 7, Semitendinosus tendon. 8, Semimembranosus tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 4. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Femur. 3, Medial meniscus, anterior horn. 4, Tibia. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Medial meniscus, posterior horn.7, Semitendinosus tendon. 8, Semimembranosus muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 5. 1, Femur. 2, Tibia. 3, Medial meniscus, posterior horn. 4, Semitendinosus tendon. 5, Semimembranosus muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 6. 1, Femur. 2, Tibia. 3, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 4, Medial meniscus, posterior horn. 5, Semimembranosus muscle. 6, Semitendinosus tendon.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 7. 1, Femur. 2, Patella. 3, Patellar tendon. 4, Tibia. 5, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 6, Posterior cruciate ligament. 7, Semimembranosus muscle. 8, Semitendinosus muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 8. 1, Vastus medialis muscle. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, Patella. 4, Patellar tendon. 5, Anterior cruciate ligament. 6, Tibia. 7, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 8, Posterior cruciate ligament.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 9. 1, Femur. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, Patella. 4, Patellar tendon. 5, Anterior cruciate ligament. 6, Tibia. 7, Medial head gastrocnemius muscle. 8, Posterior cruciate ligament. 9, Popliteal a. & v.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 10. 1, Femur. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, Patella. 4, Patellar tendon. 5, Tibia. 6, Popliteal a. & v.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 11. 1, Femur. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, Patella. 4, Patellar tendon. 5, Tibia.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 11. 1, Femur. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, Patella. 4, Patellar tendon. 5, Tibia. 6, Lateral meniscus, posterior horn.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 12. 1, Femur. 2, Quadriceps tendon. 3, Patella. 4, Patellar tendon. 5, Tibia. 6, Lateral meniscus, posterior horn. 7, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 13. 1, Quadriceps tendon. 2, Femur. 3, Lateral meniscus, anterior horn. 4, Tibia. 5, Lateral meniscus, posterior horn. 6, Lateral head gastrocnemius muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 14. 1, Femur. 2, Lateral meniscus, anterior horn. 3, Tibia. 4, Lateral meniscus, posterior horn. 5, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 15. 1, Vastus lateralis muscle. 2, Lateral femoral condyle. 3, Lateral tibial plateau. 4, Fibula. 5, Soleus muscle. 6, Lateral meniscus. 7, Biceps femoris muscle.

  • MRI of the knee: T2-weighted FATSAT, Sagittal view. Image 16. 1, Vastus lateralis muscle. 2, Biceps femoris muscle. 3, Fibula.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a radiologic procedure that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to develop detailed image cross-sections of the body, including the knee(1). 

Medical images from an MRI allow medical professionals to distinguish body tissues, including the meniscus (shock absorbers in the knee), cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. The images may also help physicians to distinguish normal, healthy tissues from dead tissues(2). 

Doctors may recommend a knee MRI if a patient experiences the following(3):

  • An abnormal result on a bone scan or knee X-ray
  • Joint fluid buildup behind the knee (Baker cyst)
  • Weakened knee
  • Knee cap injury
  • Knee instability
  • Knee joint infection
  • Fever and knee pain
  • Knee locking upon movement
  • Signs of damage to the knee muscle, ligaments, or cartilage
  • Knee pain that does not respond to treatment

Although abnormal results of a knee MRI may be due to a sprain or ligament tear, they may also be due to(4):

  • Knee degeneration
  • Cartilage injuries
  • Arthritis 
  • Broken bone
  • Bone tumor or cancer
  • Osteonecrosis (a disease caused by abnormal blood supply to the bone)
  • Baker cyst
  • Bone infection
  • Inflammation
  • Knee cap injury

What to Expect From a Knee MRI

Before the Procedure

Patients must notify their doctor if they are claustrophobic or experience pain when on their back for over 30 minutes.

Before the procedure, the patient must tell the radiologic technologist if they have any of the following(5): 

  • Artificial heart valves
  • Brain aneurysm clips
  • Pacemaker or heart defibrillator
  • Cochlear or inner ear implants
  • Kidney disease or if they are undergoing dialysis
  • Artificial joints
  • Vascular stents or scaffolds
  • History of working with sheet metal 

Patients must disclose the information above to avoid any complications once they enter the room with the MRI machine. Other materials prohibited in the room with the MRI scanner include: 

  • Pens, eyeglasses, and pocket knives
  • Jewelry, watches, and credit cards 
  • Pins, metal zippers, hairpins, and other metallic items
  • Removable dental work

They must also tell the attending technologist about any allergies they may have or if they are pregnant. 

During the Procedure

If the patient undergoing knee MRI has claustrophobia, their doctor may administer sedatives before the procedure.

The radiologic technologist helps the patient lie down on the scanning table feet first with their arms at their side. Coils may be placed around the patient’s body for better image quality.

Coils are devices used by radiologic techs to improve the quality of the medical images produced by the MRI machine(6).

The scanning table moves the patient’s lower body to the center of the machine.

During the procedure, the patient may not feel anything. However, they may hear the MRI machine’s intermittent humming and thumping sounds. The attending radiologic tech may provide the patient with earplugs to help mask the noise.

The patient must lie still during the procedure. Excessive movement may blur the images from the machine and trigger errors(7).

The rad tech must always be able to hear and see the patient during the procedure. A knee MRI exam takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes to finish(8).

The rooms are equipped with intercoms to allow patients to speak to someone at any time. Some hospitals also have televisions and headphones in the scanner rooms to help patients pass the time.

In some cases, the patient’s radiologist may decide on using a contrast agent, like dye, to improve the quality of the images. The physician may administer the dye through an intravenous injection.

After the Procedure

After the MRI, the patient may drink, eat, or drive as normal. However, if the patient took a sedative for the procedure, they need to have someone drive them home.

An imaging physician may examine and interpret the medical images from the patient’s knee MRI. The physician may send their report to the consulting doctor, who may review the patient’s exam results.

Risks of Knee MRI

An MRI exam carries no risk of radiation exposure. Patients reported no side effects after using magnetic fields and radio waves for the procedure(9).

However, some patients may experience allergic reactions to the contrast dye, which contains the chemical gadolinium. Patients must disclose their allergies to their physicians before undergoing an MRI procedure to avoid severe allergic reactions.

Although considered safe, gadolinium may be harmful to people who require dialysis for their kidney problems. If a patient suffers from kidney disease, they must inform their doctor before the test(10).

The MRI scanner’s strong magnetic fields may also cause pacemakers and other medical accessories not to function well. These magnetic fields may also cause small pieces of metal inside the body to shift or move from their place.

To minimize the risks, patients must not bring any metallic items inside the scanner room.

  1. Cedars-Sinai. MRI Knee. Retrieved from https://www.cedars-sinai.org/programs/imaging-center/exams/mri/knee.html
  2. Ibid
  3. Mount Sinai Health System. Knee MRI Scan. Retrieved from https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/knee-mri-scan
  4. Ibid
  5. Ibid
  6. Cedars-Sinai. Op cit.
  7. Mount Sinai Health System. Op cit.
  8. Cedars-Sinai. Op cit.
  9. Mount Sinai Health System. Op cit.
  10. Ibid

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