title: Magnetic resonance imaging in pigmented villonodular synovitis.
abstract: The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee is described for three patients. In the images for one patient diffuse areas of low signal intensity reflecting hemosiderin deposits suggested the diagnosis. For another patient with the diffuse form of the condition but minimal hemosiderin deposition, identification of diffuse synovial proliferation in the MRI images guided diagnostic percutaneous biopsy. For the third patient, who had localized pigmented villonodular synovitis, MRI after administration of a gadolinium chelate facilitated identification of localized synovial proliferation and guided diagnostic arthroscopic biopsy. The authors discuss the value of MRI in the diagnosis of all forms of this uncommon condition and the various signal characteristics that it may produce.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiological Sciences, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eustace
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Srinivasen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D013586:Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA