Quadriceps fat-pad impingement syndrome: MRI findings.

To cite: Bas A, Tutar O, Yanik I, et al. BMJ Case Reports Published online: 10 December 2012 doi:10.1136/bcr-2012007643 DESCRIPTION A 32-year-old man was referred to a radiology department for intermittent anterior knee pain and swelling for approximately 6 months. The patient denied any history of major trauma, fracture or infection. MRI was performed to diagnose the cause of knee pain. The axial view of MRI revealed increased patellofemoral joint effusion and the sagittal view of T1-weighted, and T2-weighted MRIs showed an oedema, increased intra-articular fluid and thickening of suprapatellar fat pad (figures 1 and 2). Also, oedema of quadriceps fat impingement is visible at both coronal and axial fat sat T2-weighted sections. Knee pain is a very common clinical complaint. Generalised pain in the front of knee has many causes. Numerous traumatic and non-traumatic processes may be encountered, many occurring relative to the anterior compartment, including fat-pad impingement syndromes. Three normal anterior knee fat pads are present at the knee which separates joint capsule and synovium; the