Ces radiol. 2016, 70(3):173-184 | DOI: 10.55095/CesRadiol2016/026

Hoffa's fat pad - an underreported structureReview article

Jindra Brtková

Radiologická klinika LF UK a FN, Hradec Králové

Following an information on the anatomical and physiologic background, an overview of MRI imaging findings of both intrinsic and extrinsic pathologic conditions of Hoffa's fat of the knee is presented.
In a retrospective study of 118 MRI examinations of the knee a detailed analysis of the anterior compartment was performed and the findings will be displayed as visualized by a 1,5 T and 3 T MRI scanner.
The encountered pathologic conditions are more frequently extrinsic - related to the adjacent structures: An irregular dorsal surface due to synovitis, cystic structures - a ganglion cyst of the anterior cruciate ligament or of the anterior transverse ligament or a meniscal cyst of the ruptured anterior horns of the menisci. Edema, a fissure or a rupture may be part of a complex acute posttraumatic condition of the knee, or due to repeated microtraumas. The clefts may contain an intraarticular loose body, traces of arthroscopy or an interfering cyclops lesion may be found. Masses of the adjacent structures (esp. hemangiomas, pigmented villonodular synovitis, bone tumours) easily extend into the fat pad.
Most of the intrinsic pathologic conditions are caused by impingement - Hoffa's disease, the infrapatellar impingement syndrome of the dorsal apex and the less frequent superolateral or superomedial impingement.
The relevance of anatomical variants with respect to clinical entities will be discussed.
The pathologic findings in Hoffa's fat pad in MRI are more frequent than generally expected, they can be the source of a painful condition of the knee themselves or they can indicate a pathology or be part of a pathology of the adjacent structures.

Keywords: Hoffa's fat pad, knee, MRI

Accepted: September 15, 2016; Published: September 1, 2016  Show citation