title: A rare cause of calf swelling: the Morel-Lavallee lesion.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland. jonnymoriarty@yahoo.com
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moriarty
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Borrero
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
mesh_terms: 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