The Morel-Lavallée lesion: pathophysiology, clinical presentation, imaging features, and treatment options.
Morel-Lavallée lesions are posttraumatic hemolymphatic collections related to shearing injury and disruption of interfascial planes between subcutaneous soft tissue and muscle. We review the pathophysiology of Morel-Lavallée lesions, clinical presentation, and potential sites of involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the modality of choice for characterization. We present the MRI classification and highlight the key imaging features that distinguish the different types, focusing on the three most common: seroma, subacute hematoma, and chronic organizing hematoma. Potential mimics of Morel-Lavallée lesions, such as soft tissue sarcoma and hemorrhagic prepatellar bursitis, are compared and contrasted. Treatment options and a management algorithm are also briefly discussed.
Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Iris
I
Bonilla-Yoon
Sulabha
S
Masih
Dakshesh B
DB
Patel
Eric A
EA
White
Benjamin D
BD
Levine
Kira
K
Chow
Christopher J
CJ
Gottsegen
George R
GR
Matcuk
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy