J Korean Radiol Soc.  1994 Jul;31(1):165-170.

MR Imaging of the Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Knee

• Lee SH
• Ahn JM
• Kang HS
• Kim CW
• Lee HK

Abstract

PURPOSE
To describe the magnetic resonance (MR) findings of pigmented villonodular synovitis(PVNS) of the knee, and to evaluate the clinical value of MR in the diagnosis of PVNS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
MR imagings of seven patients with PVNS were studied. The type of lesion, presence of bony erosion, the signal intensity, and the relationship between contrast enhancement and signal intensity on T2-weighted images were analyzed, retrospectively.
RESULTS
The lesion was mainly villous in three patients and nodular in four, and bony erosion was seen in one patient. On T2-weighted image, the signal intensity of the villous form was mixed iso- and hypointense in two, hypointense in one, and that of the nodular form was heterogeneous with hypo-, iso-, and hyperintensities. The hypointense portion on T2-weighted image showed poor contrast enhancement, which may suggest hemosiderin deposition or advanced fibrosis. The iso- or hyperintense portion on T2-weighted image showed strong enhancement, which suggest active cellular proliferation.
CONCLUSION
MR imaging could be a very useful modality in the diagnosis as well as prediction of histological findings of the PVNS.

MeSH Terms

Cell Proliferation
Diagnosis
Fibrosis
Hemosiderin
Humans
Knee*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Retrospective Studies
Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular*
Hemosiderin