MRI imaging of the patella provides information that a plain X-ray cannot.
Specifically the MRI allows the doctor to evaluate the articular cartilage under the patella and over the trochlear groove. The doctor can see if there is a lesion of the articular cartilage, and can get a sense of its location, its width and its depth. The presence or absence of such a lesion will affect the treatment offered to the patient.
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