I am reading some MRI report and see "Focal tear of the [ligament name]". what does the adjective add? In other words, what is the difference between "Focal tear of the [ligament name]" and "Tear of the [ligament name]"?
https://www.google.com/search?q=focal+meaning&oq=focal+mean defines focal as:
(of a disease or medical condition) occurring in one particular site in the body.
Does that mean that a focal tear of the [ligament name] is smaller in length than a "Tear of the [ligament name]"?