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Patellar tendinitis (Jumper's knee)

Case contributed by Ahmed Abdrabou
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Anterior knee pain. The patient is football player.

Patient Data

Age: 20 years
Gender: Male

The proximal attachment of patellar tendon is thickened and displays focal intermediate signal in T1 and bright signal in STIR.

Case Discussion

Features are consistent of patellar tendinitis (also called jumper's knee) which occurs in athletes predisposed by frequent jumping lead to chronic overuse.

Classification of the signal intensity (axial images) of the ligament :

  • Grade 0: Normal tendon appearances
  • Grade 1: Increased signal intensity in less than 25% of the axial cross-sectional tendon width
  • Grade 2: Increased high-signal intensity in 25% to 50% of the axial cross-sectional tendon width.
  • Grade 3: Increased high-signal intensity occupying more than 50% of the axial cross-sectional tendon width.

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