Anterior knee pain is common with a variety of causes which can be divided anatomically using a layered approach1 from superficial to deep:
Superficial soft tissues
Extensor mechanism
quadriceps tendinosis / partial tear
patellar tendinosis / partial tear
Intracapsular extrasynovial
ganglion / parameniscal cyst
Intra-articular
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plica syndromes
suprapatellar plica
infrapatellar plica (ligamentum mucosum)
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patellofemoral osteoarthrosis
inflammatory and depositional arthritis
focal nodular synovitis