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Hoffa's fat pad tumours: what do we know about them?
Jose I Albergo1, Czar Louie L Gaston, Mark Davies
1Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, B31 2AP, UK.
International Orthopaedics
|September 4, 2013
Summary
Tumours of the Hoffa's fat pad (HFP) are uncommon knee lesions. While mostly benign, particularly pigmented villonodular synovitis, malignant synovial sarcomas can occur, especially in children.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Musculoskeletal Oncology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Hoffa's fat pad (HFP) tumours are rare and often misdiagnosed.
- Understanding their characteristics is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical presentation, histology, and treatment of HFP tumours.
- To highlight two previously undescribed cases of synovial sarcoma in the HFP.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 25 prospectively collected cases of HFP tumours.
- Analysis of patient demographics, clinical features, treatment, and outcomes with a minimum six-month follow-up.
Main Results:
- The majority of HFP tumours (92%) were benign, with pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) being the most common (48%).
- Pain was the predominant symptom (92%).
- Two malignant synovial sarcomas were identified, both occurring in patients under 16 years old.
Conclusions:
- HFP tumours are uncommon and can mimic other knee pathologies.
- While typically benign, malignant tumours like synovial sarcoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially in paediatric patients.
