Anterior Knee Pain and Oedema-Like Changes of The Suprapatellar Fat Pad: Correlation of The Symptoms with MRI Findings
Objective: To evaluate the role of oedema like changes of the suprapatellar fat pad in the development of anterior knee pain. Methods: Total 156 knee MRIs of 150 patients from December 2015 to July 2019 were retrospectively evaluated by a radiologist with 13 years of MRI experience for the configuration of the suprapatellar fat pads. Population was divided into two groups according to referring physicians’ notes for presence of anterior knee pain. The study group consisted of the patients with complaints of anterior knee pain. The control group consisted of patients without anterior knee pain. Maximum craniocaudal, anteroposterior and oblique diameters and relative signal intensity indexes of the suprapatellar fat pads were measured and compared between the groups. Configurations of the fat pads were recorded (triangular shaped vs convex posterior bordered suprapatellar fat pads), and measurements of the triangular shaped and convex posterior bordered suprapatellar fat pads were compared. Student t test was used for statistical analysis. Statistically significant differences and correlations were defined as p<0.05. Results: The diameters and relative signal intensity indexes of the fat pads showed no significant difference between the groups (p=0.588, 0.744, 0.874 and 0.201, respectively). Anteroposterior and oblique diameters and relative signal intensity indexes of the suprapatellar fat pads were correlated with convex posterior border (p=0.001, 0.003 and 0.000, respectively). Conclusion: Oedema-like changes of the suprapatellar fat pad seen at knee MRIs are correlated with the configuration of the fat pad, but are rarely associated with anterior knee pain.