Abnormalities of the pericruciate fat pad: Correlations with the location and severity of chondral lesions of the knee

Ji Na Kim; Hee Jin Park; Jai Hyung Park; Se Jin Park; Eugene Kim; Yong Taek Lee; Hyunchul Shin

doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.111028

Abnormalities of the pericruciate fat pad: Correlations with the location and severity of chondral lesions of the knee

Eur J Radiol. 2023 Oct:167:111028. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.111028. Epub 2023 Aug 7.

Authors

Ji Na Kim¹, Hee Jin Park², Jai Hyung Park³, Se Jin Park³, Eugene Kim³, Yong Taek Lee⁴, Hyunchul Shin⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: parkhiji@gmail.com.
³ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Department of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁵ Department of Neurosurgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 37595398
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.111028

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the grade of signal change of the pericruciate fat pad (PCFP) and the location and severity of cartilage alterations in the knee on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and methods: This retrospective study included 234 patients (M:F = 96:138, mean: 51 years) who underwent knee MRI. Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists assessed any PCFP alterations (as grades 0-3) and chondral lesions using the modified Outerbridge grade (as grades 0-4). Bone marrow lesions (BMLs), meniscal status, anterior cruciate ligament alterations, and effusion-synovitis were also evaluated on the MRI. The relationships between PCFP alteration and MR findings (including the grade of chondral lesion) were evaluated.

Results: Signal changes in the PCFP were detected in 150 cases by Reader 1 (grade 0, 67 cases; grade 1, 53 cases; grade 2, 21 cases; grade 3, 9 cases) and in 154 cases by Reader 2 (grade 0, 59 cases; grade 1, 61 cases; grade 2, 24 cases; grade 3, 10 cases). The grade of PCFP signal change was statistically significantly correlated with the grade of the chondral lesion of the medial femoral condyle (MFC) (p = 0.029 and p = 0.003, respectively) and the medial tibial plateau (MTP) (p = 0.045, p = 0.002, Readers 1 and 2, respectively). The grade of PCFP signal change was significantly correlated with the grade of the BMLs of the MFC, MTP, and lateral femoral condyle (p < 0.05) for both readers. PCFP alteration was related to effusion-synovitis and tears of the medial meniscus.

Conclusions: The grade of PCFP signal change was correlated with the severity of the cartilage alteration in the medial compartment of the knee joint and was also correlated with BMLs in the medial compartment, medial meniscal tears, and synovitis. Therefore, signal change in the PFCP seen on MRI can be an additional clue of the presence of osteoarthritis in the knee, particularly in the medial compartment.

Keywords: Adipose tissue; Chondral lesion; Knee; Magnetic resonance imaging; Osteoarthritis.

MeSH terms

Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries* / pathology
Bone Diseases* / pathology
Cartilage Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
Cartilage Diseases* / pathology
Cartilage, Articular* / diagnostic imaging
Humans
Knee Joint / diagnostic imaging
Knee Joint / pathology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Menisci, Tibial / pathology
Retrospective Studies
Synovitis* / pathology