Clinical History
The patient complained of anterior knee pain for 2 months.
Imaging Findings
The patient complained of anterior knee pain for 2 months. She had an arthroscopic partial resection of the medial meniscus one year ago. Physical examination findings were unremarkable for a meniscus pathology.
MRI examination was ordered for excluding a re-tear and also for cartilage injury. MRI examination revealed focal edematous signal changes in fat pad which is located between lateral femoral condyle and patellar tendon (Figure 1). There were no associated signal changes in condyle or patellar tendon. Lateral femoral condyle prominency and patella alta were detected (Figure 2). There was no meniscal abormality and the rest of the examination was within normal limits.
Discussion
Patellar tendon-lateral femoral condyle friction syndrome is one of the causes of chronic anterior and lateral knee pain. MRI findings, which were published before, occur between the lateral femoral condyle and the postero-inferolateral part of the patellar tendon. Lateral part of the Hoffa's fat pad in this location shows edematous signal changes similar to Hoffa's disease. There may be associated cystic changes in lateral femoral condyle and patellar tendon pathology also in some patients. These findings were not detected in our case. Patella alta and lateral femoral condyle prominency were observed in our case.
This pathology should be kept in mind while evaluating the patients with anterior or lateral knee pain.
Differential Diagnosis List
Patellar tendon-lateral femoral condyle friction syndrome
Final Diagnosis
Patellar tendon-lateral femoral condyle friction syndrome
