title: Computed tomography in osteochondritis dissecans of the patella.
abstract: Osteochondritis dissecans is a disorder which rarely involves the patella. It must be differentiated from chondromalacia, lateral marginal fracture due to direct injury, medial facet osteochondral fracture secondary to traumatic lateral dislocation and a dorsal defect of the patella. I report a patient in whom computed tomography (CT) helped confirm the diagnosis. Although usually diagnosable from plain films, in difficult patients CT should be considered.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002356:Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010007:Osteochondritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010008:Osteochondritis Dissecans / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D010329:Patella / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed