A rare cause of calf swelling: the Morel-Lavallee lesion.
BACKGROUND
Calf swelling is a common clinical presentation with a wide and varied differential diagnosis. The Morel-Lavallee is a rare cause of subcutaneous swelling, caused by post-traumatic shearing of the hypodermis from the underlying fascia. The potential space so created fills with blood, lymph and necrotic fat giving specific findings on MR evaluation.


METHODS
A case of a 53-year-old man with calf swelling is presented, with clinical and MRI correlation. Treatment options and clinical course are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
The Morel-Lavallee lesion is a rare but important cause of calf swelling. MRI is the mainstay of diagnosis and treatment includes both surgical and minimally invasive modalities.
Moriarty
J M
JM
Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland. jonnymoriarty@yahoo.com
Borrero
C G
CG
Kavanagh
E C
EC
D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy