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Meniscal ossicle

Case contributed by Matt Skalski
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Knee pain

Patient Data

Age: 45 years old
Gender: Female
mri

There is a triangular lesion within the posterior horn of the medial meniscus that follows marrow signal and has a low signal rim on all sequences. Adjacent to this, no intact root fibers of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus are identified. 

The body of the lateral meniscus is mildly enlarged indicating a discoid morphology.

There is moderate delamination of the articular cartilage of the weight-bearing surface of the lateral femoral condyle. 

x-ray

There is a triangular ossific density in the posterior aspect of the medial compartment of the tibiofemoral joint. 

Case Discussion

Typical example of a meniscal ossicle, which is a relatively rare ossicle that should not be confused with a fabella, which would be lateral and extra-articular. Meniscal ossicles are often seen in association with, and likely a consequence of meniscal tear, most frequently a root tear.

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