Unusual presentation of a meniscal tear: a case report

The signs and symptoms of meniscal tears are well known and diversified. The authors describe the unusual presentation of a meniscal tear in a 45-year-old sedentary male with no history of trauma. The tear presented as a painless hard lump in the medial aspect of the knee and was diagnosed preoperatively as benign soft tissue tumor. On exploration, the patient was found to have a vertical bucket-handle tear of the medial meniscus. The fragment had detached at the posterior horn, everted, and presented as a subcutaneous lesion over the anteromedial parapatellar region of the knee. A review of the English literature failed to reveal a similar presentation of meniscal tears. The authors conclude that a meniscal tear should be included in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumors in the knee region.