A meniscus causing painful snapping of the elbow joint: MR imaging with arthroscopic and histologic correlation

Eur Radiol. 2005 Dec;15(12):2411-4. doi: 10.1007/s00330-005-2685-1. Epub 2005 Feb 17.

Abstract

Snapping of the elbow joint can cause pain. We report a case of painful snapping elbow produced by an interposed meniscus in the radiohumeral joint in a 20-year-old man. The MR arthrogram demonstrated a meniscus-like tissue interposed between the radial head and humeral capitellum. The MR-arthrographic findings were well correlated with surgical findings. The location and appearance of the meniscus-like tissue was similar to that of meniscus in the knee joint. Histologic findings of the excised meniscus-like tissue showed a typical presentation of fibrocartilage. A meniscus may exist in the elbow joint and can be a rare cause of painful snapping elbow. MR arthrography is helpful for identifying the snapping tissue in the elbow joint.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arthralgia / etiology
  • Arthralgia / pathology*
  • Arthrography
  • Arthroscopy
  • Cartilage Diseases / complications
  • Cartilage Diseases / pathology*
  • Elbow Joint / pathology*
  • Fibrocartilage / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Joint Instability / etiology
  • Joint Instability / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Sound
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Synovial Membrane / pathology*