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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2025; 35(02): 346-349
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1793807
Case Report

Calcific Enthesitis of Lateral Patellofemoral Ligament: A Rare Cause of Anterolateral Knee Pain

Sindhura Mettu
1   Department of Radiology, Himagiri Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
,
Kapil Shirodkar 
2   Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Royal Orthopedic Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom
,
Robert Henderson
2   Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Royal Orthopedic Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom
,
Karthikeyan P. Iyengar 
3   Department of Orthopaedics, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital, Mersey and West Lancashire Hospital NHS Trust, Ormskirk, United Kingdom
,
Rajesh Botchu 
2   Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Royal Orthopedic Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Hydroxyapatite deposition disease is a common musculoskeletal pathology that often affects rotator cuff tendons in the shoulder joint. Here, we present the first documented case of acute calcific enthesitis involving the lateral patellar retinaculum, specifically the lateral patellofemoral ligament (LPFL). A 35-year-old male presented with insidious onset atraumatic pain persisting for 3 months on the lateral aspect of the knee, intensifying over the past week. Clinical examination revealed focal tenderness in the anterolateral region of the knee, with no signs of patellar instability. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed, which revealed thickening and calcification within the LPFL and perilesional edema, further confirmed on computed tomography and ultrasonography. Patient was managed successfully with barbotage with complete resolution of symptoms. This case highlights the importance of considering calcification of LPFL in the differential diagnosis of anterolateral knee pain and underscores the importance of different imaging modalities for prompt diagnosis.

Keywords

periarthritis - HADD - knee - USG - patellar retinaculum - MRI - calcific enthesitis

Patient's Consent

Informed consent obtained from patient.




Publication History

Article published online:
19 November 2024

© 2024. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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