Presentation
Training for a half marathon and experiencing lateral knee pain.
Patient Data
Between a mildly thickened distal iliotibial band and the lateral aspect of the lateral femoral metaphysics, with mild bone marrow edema like signal within the subchondral bone, is edema of the synovial fat. Findings suggestive of iliotibial band friction syndrome.
No lateral meniscal tear.
Case Discussion
Iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBS) is one cause of lateral knee pain. Often MRI is performed to exclude a lateral meniscal tear as the pain is not always localisable to the lateral aspect of the lateral femoral metaphysis where the ITB extends over the bony prominence.
Findings can be subtle but the region between the ITB and lateral femoral metaphysis should be a review point when reading MRI knee examinations.