Benign periarticular, bone and joint lipomatous lesions

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Orthopedic Imaging
• Musculoskeletal Radiology

Background:

• Benign lipomatous lesions of bone and joints are uncommon but are being diagnosed more frequently.
• Advances in imaging technology have improved the detection of these rare entities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive pictorial review of benign periarticular, bone, and joint lipomatous lesions.
• To illustrate the varied imaging presentations and pathognomonic features of these lesions.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging findings (e.g., MRI, CT) of pathologically confirmed benign lipomatous lesions.
• Correlation of imaging features with histopathological diagnoses.
• Categorization of lesions by location (intraosseous, intra-articular, periarticular).

Main Results:

• Demonstration of characteristic imaging appearances for key lesions including intraosseous lipoma, lipoma arborescens, liposclerosing myxofibrous tumor, and intra-articular lipoma.
• Highlighting of specific imaging findings that aid in differentiating these lesions.
• Emphasis on the rarity and diverse presentations of these benign tumors.

Conclusions:

• Familiarity with the imaging spectrum of benign lipomatous lesions is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• Advanced imaging techniques play a vital role in identifying and characterizing these rare bone and joint pathologies.
• Radiologists and clinicians should be aware of the typical and atypical presentations to avoid misdiagnosis.