Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to present a review of intraarticular ganglia of the knee. Materials: Cases of intraarticular ganglia of the knee were isolated from a group of 1405 consecutive patients referred for MR imaging examinations of the knee. Diagnoses were conþrmed by means of a histological study after arthroscopic or surgical excision. Results: 14 pts (10 men and four women) had intraarticular ganglia of the knee. 3 ganglia were found in Hoffañs fat pad, 5 were associated with the anterior cruciate ligament, 5 were associated with the posterior cruciate ligament, and one was associated with the ligament of Humphrey. Pain was the most common complaint. Symptoms grew worse with activity in 9 pts. There was associated limited knee extension in 4 cases and limited knee ßexion in 3 cases. One of the three pts with ganglia in Hoffañs fat pad had a palpable mass on physical examination. The cysts were ßuidþlled, with low T1-w and high T2-w signal intensity. 10 cases demonstrated peripheral thin rim enhancement on fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced T1-w SE images. Grad echo sequences were useful in excluding areas of hemosiderin. Conclusion: Intraarticular ganglia of the knee have been found to occur commonly, with a prevalence of 1.% in the present series. The clinical presentation of intra-articular ganglion cyst is varied according to its intra-articular location. Radiologists should be aware of this entity and its defferential diagnoses. The contrast-enhanced sequences allow intraarticular ganglia to be distinguished from PVNS, synovial hemangioma and synovial sarcoma.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
