Guinel Hernandez Filho MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Abdalla Y. Skaf MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Berna Dirim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mani Wangwinyuvirat MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Debbie Trudell, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Donald L. Resnick MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Parviz Haghighi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The pericruciate fat pad is located in the intercondylar fossa, intimate with the cruciate ligaments. With MR imaging, signal abnormality of the pericruciate fat pad has been observed in patients with posterior knee pain. The purpose of this study is to describe the anatomy of the pericruciate fat pad in cadaveric specimens and to document the clinical spectrum of pericruciate fat pad inflammation.

Twelve cadaveric knees underwent MR imaging with T1 and T2 multiplanar images. Cadaveric sections were then prepared for macroscopic evaluation, with additional histologic analysis performed in three cases. MR images in seven patients (4 males, 3 females; average age, 36 years; age range, 26 to 57 years) involved in intensive sporting activity and with posterior knee pain were reviewed.

MR images in cadaveric specimens showed a fat pad that was located above and between the cruciate ligaments, near their attachment sites in the inner portion of the femoral condyles, within the intercondylar fossa. Fatty tissue covered by a thin layer of synovial membrane was confirmed at histology. Seven patients with posterior knee pain and without gross cartilage, meniscal or ligamentous abnormalities all revealed an increased signal in this fat pad in fluid-sensitive fat-supressed images, mainly in the sagital and axial planes. In two cases, enhancement of this fat pad was demonstrated following intravenous gadolinium administration.

The pericruciate fat pad is a structure located in the intercondylar fossa, intimate with both the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. Inflammatory changes in this fat pad may be found in patients, especially athletes with posterior knee pain.

The pericruciate fat pad is not a well recognized structure, yet its inflammation plays an important role as a cause of posterior knee pain.

Hernandez Filho, G, Skaf, A, Dirim, B, Wangwinyuvirat, M, Trudell, D, Resnick, D, Haghighi, P, Pericruciate Fat Pad: Anatomy and Description of a New Entity—Pericruciate Fat Pad Inflammation: Cadaveric and Clinical Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5004850.html