Lipoma arborescens of the suprapatellar bursa and extensor digitorum longus tendon sheath: report of 2 cases.
OBJECTIVE
Lipoma arborescens (diffuse articular lipomatosis) is a rare intra-articular lesion consisting of subsynovial villous proliferation of mature fat cells. The usual clinical presentation is painless swelling. The aim of this series was to emphasize the importance of gray scale and color Doppler sonography through the investigation of chronic joint swelling.


METHODS
Lipoma arborescens of the knee and extensor digitorum longus tendon sheath at the ankle region are described. The latter is extremely rare. We examined 2 patients with sonography before using cross-sectional modalities.


RESULTS
Gray scale sonography revealed hyperechoic irregular villous and frondlike projections within prominent joint effusion. A wavelike motion of the projections was shown by dynamic compression and manipulation of the effusion. We observed moderate vascularity on color Doppler sonography. Spectral analysis revealed a low-resistance arterial waveform.


CONCLUSIONS
Gray scale sonography is a useful diagnostic modality that can be performed to evaluate chronic joint swelling before the use of cross-sectional and more expensive modalities.
Senocak
Efsun
E
Department of Radiology, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Izzet Baysal School of Medicine, 14280 Gölköy, Bolu, Turkey. eurger@yahoo.com
Gurel
Kamil
K
Gurel
Safiye
S
Ozturan
Kutay Engin
KE
Cakici
Husamettin
H
Yilmaz
Fahri
F
Boran
Cetin
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002061:Bursa, Synovial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008067:Lipoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color