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Case report 745: Synovial lipoma arborescens
D Martinez1, P A Millner, A Coral
1Department of Radiology, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Skeletal Radiology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
A rare knee condition, lipoma arborescens, presented atypically with sudden onset. Surgical removal of the fatty mass confirmed the diagnosis and is considered curative.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Lipoma arborescens is a benign, villous lipomatous proliferation of the synovial membrane.
- It typically affects the knee joint, presenting as chronic joint swelling and pain.
Observation:
- This case details an atypical, sudden onset of lipoma arborescens in the knee.
- Imaging studies including arthrography, ultrasound, and CT scan were utilized for diagnosis.
- A synovially based lesion was identified in the suprapatellar pouch.
Findings:
- Preoperative diagnosis via CT scan was confirmed by surgical excision.
- Histological examination revealed hyperplastic villi with mature adipose cells in the subsynovial layer.
- The excised mass was described as fronded and fatty.
Implications:
- Surgical resection of the affected synovium is the standard treatment.
- Complete synovectomy is generally curative, with a low reported recurrence rate.
- This case highlights the importance of considering atypical presentations of lipoma arborescens.