J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2019 Apr;54(2):172-176. 10.4055/jkoa.2019.54.2.172.

Symptomatic Calcific Deposition in Posterior Cruciate Ligament of the Knee

Affiliations
  • 1Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon, Korea. sysung@ish.ac.kr

Abstract

Calcium deposition disease, including calcific tendinitis, rarely affects the knee joint. Only a few cases can be found in the literatures and there is no case report of symptomatic calcific deposition arising from the posterior cruciate ligament in Korea. The authors encountered a case of symptomatic calcific deposition arising from the posterior cruciate ligament, which was excised arthroscopically and confirmed pathologically. This paper reports this case with a review of the relevant literature.

Keyword

calcinosis; posterior cruciate ligament

MeSH Terms

Calcinosis
Calcium
Knee Joint
Knee*
Korea
Posterior Cruciate Ligament*
Tendinopathy
Calcium

Figure

  • Figure 1. Plain anteroposterior (A) and lateral (B) radiographs of the left knee demonstrating a calcific lesion just below intercondylar notch (arrows).

  • Figure 2. (A) Sagittal magnetic resonance imaging, T2-weighted of the left knee. A round mass with well circumscribed intermediate signal intensity was observed just inferior to the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). (B) A low signal intensity mass was noted in the posterior aspect of the PCL in T1-weighted image.

  • Figure 3. (A) On the anterolateral portal view, there were calcific deposits with a ‘tooth-paste’ consistency arising from the posterior cruciate ligament. (B) After excising the mass from the anteromedial portal with the shaver, it was removed completely by an arthroscopic technique.

  • Figure 4. Postoperative plain anteroposterior radiograph of the left knee demonstrating that a calcific lesion has disappeared.

  • Figure 5. In H&E staining (×200), laminated or amorphous calcific deposition can be seen between the degenerated tendon fibers.


Reference

References

1. Chan R, Kim DH, Millett PJ, Weissman BN. Calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff with cortical bone erosion. Skeletal Radiol. 2004. 33:596–9.
Article
2. Uhthoff HK, Loehr JW. Calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1997. 5:183–91.
Article
3. Holt PD, Keats TE. Calcific tendinitis: a review of the usual and unusual. Skeletal Radiol. 1993. 22:1–9.
Article
4. McKendry RJ, Uhthoff HK, Sarkar K, Hyslop PS. Calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder: prognostic value of clinical, histologic, and radiologic features in 57 surgically treated cases. J Rheumatol. 1982. 9:75–80.
5. Shenoy PM, Kim DH, Wang KH. . Calcific tendinitis of popliteus tendon: arthroscopic excision and biopsy. Orthopedics. 2009. 32:127.
Article
6. Tibrewal SB. Acute calcific tendinitis of the popliteus tendon: an unusual site and clinical syndrome. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2002. 84:338–41.
7. Chan W, Chase HE, Cahir JG, Walton NP. Calcific tendinitis of biceps femoris: an unusual site and cause for lateral knee pain. BMJ Case Rep. 2016. 2016. pii: bcr2016215745.
Article
8. Song K, Dong J, Zhang Y. . Arthroscopic management of calcific tendonitis of the medial collateral ligament. Knee. 2013. 20:63–5.
Article
9. Molloy ES, McCarthy GM. Hydroxyapatite deposition disease of the joint. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2003. 5:215–21.
Article
10. Kim MK, Bae JH, Jeon YS. Conservative and early ar-throscopic treatment of calcific tendinitis. J Korean Ar-throscop Soc. 2009. 13:149–54.
Full Text Links
  • JKOA
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr