Mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament: MRI, clinical, intraoperative, and histological findings.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical, MRI, intraoperative, and histological features of mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).


METHODS
This study included 10 patients (average age 47 years, range 19-69 years) who underwent surgery due to clinical diagnoses of mucoid degeneration of the ACL. All patients underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and were arthroscopically treated.


RESULTS
All 10 patients reported preoperative posterior knee pain. MRI indicated a thickened ACL with increased signal on all sequences. Postoperatively, only six of 10 patients were confirmed by biopsy to have a mucoid degeneration of the ACL. An associated intraosseous tibial cyst or ganglion was observed only in patients with a definitive diagnosis of mucoid degeneration.


CONCLUSIONS
Mucoid degeneration of the ACL can be suspected in patients with posterior knee pain associated with a thickened ACL. Associated findings such as an intraosseous tibial or ganglion cyst help to rule out differential diagnosis.
Makino
Arturo
A
Orthopedics Department, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Potosi 4247, C1199ACK, Buenos Aires, Argentina. makinoresearch@gmail.com
Pascual-Garrido
Cecilia
C
Rolón
Alejandro
A
Isola
Mariana
M
Muscolo
Domingo L
DL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D007719:Knee Joint; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D035583:Rare Diseases; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
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