The complete type of suprapatellar plica and lipoma arborescens: a case report

Lipoma arborescens is a rare intra-articular benign lesion. It is characterized by villous lipomatous proliferation of the synovial tissue and its etiology is not certain. Clinical presentation is usually long-standing, painless and slowly progressive swelling of the related joint. Magnetic resonance imaging plays an important role in diagnosis. Diagnosis can be determined by hypertrophied synovial tissue with synovial lining cells containing adipose tissue on examination using a light microscope. The synovial plica of the knee is formed during the embryogenic phase of development. This development is incomplete in many individuals. When the synovial plica of the knee persists, it is transformed into an embryonic relic that is located in either the suprapatellar or midpatellar region of the knee. We present a rare case with both a complete type of suprapatellar plica and a symptomatic lipoma arborescens in the suprapatellar recess.