Infrapatellar Fat Pad Calcification: A Case Series and a Narrative Review

Infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) calcification is a rarely reported entity in the literature. Only a few cases have been reported so far and that too as case reports. The authors in the present study present two cases of IFP calcification. We also did a thorough review of the literature on the clinical presentation, etiology, and management of the rarely reported entity and present it as a narrative review.

Cases: Three cases managed by the authors are presented as case reports. A narrative review of the PubMed and Cochrane database was carried out using MeSH headings and subheadings in various combinations (i.e., IFP calcification and IFP calcified mass and para-articular osteochondroma knee and Hoffa's fat pad calcification). The data from the previous studies and case reports were extracted (Age, sex, symptoms, duration of symptoms, management, and pathological assessment).

We in this study present 03 cases who had presented with large IFP mass with calcification on radiographs. They underwent excision of the mass and had an uneventful recovery. Narrative review of the literature was done which showed 36 such cases in 26 studies which were reported so far with a calcified mass in the IFP. The mean age of presentation was 49.64 years (16-78 years). The duration of symptoms varied from 02 to 360 months. The average volume of the mass excised was 99.91 cc. The management was excision of the mass in all except two cases, who underwent total knee arthroplasty and one which was managed conservatively. The lesions were benign in nature on clinical presentation and on histopathological assessment.

IFP has no clearly defined function and role; however, it is known to harbor various pathologies. These can present as a calcified mass on radiographs and are generally benign in nature. The management primarily is excision in majority of the cases.