Table 3 Evaluation criteria used for ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and computed tomography arthrography (CTA) to evaluate the menisci, meniscotibial ligaments and cranial cruciate ligament (CrCrL)

Meniscus

Overall visibility

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

Aspect internal structure

0: heterogeneous

1: homogeneous (for visualised part)

0: heterogeneous

1: homogeneous

0: heterogeneous

1: homogeneous

Outline

0: not triangular and smooth

1: triangular and smooth

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

Cranial menisco-tibial ligaments

Overall

visibility

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

Aspect internal structure

0: no longitudinal echoes detected

1: moderate longitudinal echo pattern

2: clear longitudinal echo pattern over entire width ligament

0: heterogeneous

1: homogeneous

0: heterogeneous

1: homogeneous

Outline

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

Caudal menisco-tibial ligaments

Overall

visibility

0: not visible

1: visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

Aspect internal structure

/

0: heterogeneous

1: homogeneous

0: heterogeneous

1: homogeneous

Outline

/

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

Cranial cruciate ligament

Visibility / structure identification

0: not visible

1: visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

Visibility

Outline

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

0: not visible

1: poorly visible

2: moderately visible

3: well visible

Length outline visualized

In mm and % of total length CrCrL on CTA

/

Total length CrCrL in mm

Smoothness of outline

0: irregular

1: smooth

/

0: irregular

1: smooth

Aspect internal structure

0: no longitudinal echoes detected

1: moderate fibrillar pattern

2: clear fibrillar pattern over entire width ligament

0: heterogeneous

1: homogeneous

0: heterogeneous with contrast within ligament

1: homogeneous

Length longitudinal echoes visualized

In mm and % of total length CrCrL on CTA

/

/