title: Elbow fat pads with new signs and extended differential diagnosis.
abstract: Although fat pad signs are classically associated with fracture, there are many nontraumatic disease processes which lead to positive fat pad signs. Any intraarticular fluid or tissue accumulation may result in an abnormal posterior fat pad. A "paradoxical" positive posterior fat pad sign may occur in some instances of extraarticular disease. An extended differential diagnosis is presented.
mesh_terms: D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004550:Elbow / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006073:Gout / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006395:Hemarthrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013585:Synovitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000092464:Elbow Injuries