Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 18, Issue 9 647-653, Copyright © 1999 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Sonographic evaluation of the posterior cruciate ligament in amputated specimens and normal subjects
T. G. Wang, C. L. Wang, T. C. Hsu, J. Y. Shieh, Y. W. Shau and F. J. Hsieh
Department of Physical Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Republic of China.
The purpose of this study was to define the sonographic appearance and
echogenicity of the normal posterior cruciate ligament. We examined the
posterior cruciate ligament of five amputated specimens and five normal
subjects using a 10 MHz linear array transducer. One K-wire was inserted
into the substance of the posterior cruciate ligament of the amputated knee
specimens to verify the location of the ligament on the sonogram. Various
angles of insonation were used to examine the echogenicity of the posterior
cruciate ligament. The results showed that the in situ posterior cruciate
ligament appeared as a hypoechoic band relative to the surrounding tissue
on sonograms, but it appeared hyperechoic when it was isolated and immersed
in a water bath. The specific spatial orientation of the posterior cruciate
ligament and anisotropy phenomenon contributed to the hypoechogenicity of
the posterior cruciate ligament in situ on sonogram.
