[Importance of MRI in the diagnosis of meniscal ossicle. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Intérêt de l'IRM dans le diagnostic d'ossicule méniscal. A propos de 2 cas.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To determine the contribution of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of meniscal ossicle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two cases of meniscal ossicle were evaluated by plain radiography and MR imaging. Sagittal and coronal T1-weighted (400/15), proton density and T2-weighted (2,000/20,80) sequences were performed with 0.5 T magnet. RESULTS: Plain radiography revealed a triangular ossified body in the postero-medial aspect of the knee joint. MR images demonstrated that these ossicles were located within the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. The signal of these ossicles was isointense with that of bone marrow in all sequences. CONCLUSION: MR findings allow the diagnosis of meniscal ossicle and help to differentiate it from osteochondral loose body.

Bilateral symptomatic adrenal myelolipoma.

Adrenal myelolipomas are rare, nonfunctioning benign tumors that consist of mature fat and bone-marrow elements. In the first half of this century, most adrenal myelolipomas were found incidentally at autopsy. These tumors are usually unilateral and asymptomatic. Today they are detected by ultrasonography, computerized tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging scan, done for other reasons. Adrenal myelolipomas can be diagnosed because of their characteristic images. Thus they are classified as "incidentalomas." We report the case of a 50-year-old man who had bilateral adrenal myelolipomas and whose right-side tumor was symptomatic. To our knowledge it is the third operated case reported in the literature. A right adrenalectomy was performed, keeping the asymptomatic left adrenal myelolipoma to preserve adrenal function.