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Home / Ask the Expert / knee MRI findings

knee MRI findings

April 19, 2009 By Arthritis Center

Question

Do i have to get surgery if i have Bone Marrow Edema in the knee?

Answer

No, not necessarily or not at all.  Bone marrow “edema” is a finding on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that could signify several things – 1) true edema or fluid in the bone 2) inflammation in the bone; 3) fatty infiltration of the bone.   Many times the ‘edema’ is reversible – that is, it will get better on its own.  One study shows that – if you have rheumatoid arthritis – that ‘edema’ precedes destruction of the bone.  We don’t fully understand these lesions yet.  Our technology (MRI) is ahead of our understanding of the cause and implications of the finding. 

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