Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of osteochondritis dissecans of the patella.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to evaluate the magnetic resonance (MR) appearance of patellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed MR images of 16 patients (18 cases, mean age 20 years) using OCD of the patella. In 5 cases surgery was carried out, and we compared the surgical findings with the MR imaging findings in these cases.


RESULTS
In all 18 cases, OCD was located central-inferiorly on the patella, and the average size was 11 x 11 x 7 mm. Subchondral deformities were present in 16 out of 18 cases (88.9%), subchondral cyst formation in 4 cases (22.2%), reactive bone marrow signal in 8 cases (44.4%), overlying patellar cartilage abnormality in 14 cases (77.8%), loose body in 2 cases (11.1%), patella alta in 8 cases (44.4%), hypoplastic sulcus in 7 cases (38.9%), and synovitis in 4 cases (22.2%). In all 5 cases in which surgery was carried out, the cartilage abnormality classified on the MR images was confirmed, and a loose body was removed at arthroscopy in 2 of the 5 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetic resonance imaging of patellar OCD typically shows subchondral deformity and variable abnormalities of the overlying patellar cartilage located central-inferiorly on the patella.
Choi
Yun Sun
YS
Department of Radiology and Imaging, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA. cys0128@eulji.ac.kr
Cohen
Noah A
NA
Potter
Hollis G
HG
Mintz
Douglas N
DN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010008:Osteochondritis Dissecans / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010329:Patella / Q000473:pathology; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*
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