Abstract
Three patients with histologically differing lesions of synovial origin and two with synovial cysts, one of which was a dissecting popliteal cyst, were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MR) and computerized tomography (CT). The three histologically proven synovial lesions were synovial sarcoma, diffuse giant cell tumor of tendon sheath, and synovial chondromatosis. In two of the five patients MR provided better anatomic and morphologic appreciation than CT, while in the others they were of equal value. CT demonstrated calcification in two of the lesions while on MR calcification could be identified in only one patient where it outlined the mass. MR did not demonstrate calcification in the substance of the diffuse giant cell tumor of tendon sheath. Coronal, transverse, and sagittal images of magnetic resonance graphically demonstrated the extent of the soft tissue masses and their relationship to bone, vessels, and soft tissue structures. Synovial sarcoma had a shorter T1 than diffuse giant cell tumor of tendon sheath (these two lesions being of comparable size) and also had a uniformly longer T2. The dissecting popliteal cyst showed the most intense signals on the T1 weighted images, while the uncomplicated synovial cyst showed a long T1. On the T2 weighted images, each type of cyst showed a long T2. The variance and overlap of intensity of MR signals suggest limited specificity in predicting the histologic nature of the synovial lesion.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brady TJ, Gebhardt MC, Pykett IL, Buonanno FS, Newhouse JH, Burt CT, Smith RJ, Mankin HJ, Kistler JP, Goldman MR, Hinshaw WS, Pohost GM (1982) NMR imaging of forearms in healthy volunteers and patients with giant cell tumor of bone. Radiology 144:549
Brady TJ, Rosen BR, Pykett IL, McGuire MH, Mankin HJ, Rosenthal DI (1983) NMR imaging of leg tumors. Radiology 149:181
Berquist TH (1984) Magnetic resonance imaging: Preliminary experience in orthopedic radiology. Mag Res Imag 2:41
Enzinger FM, Weiss SW (1983) Benign tumors and tumor-like lesions of synovial tissue. In: Enzinger FM, Weiss SW (eds) Soft tissue tumors. C.V. Mosby Co, St. Louis, p 502
Enzinger FM, Weiss SW (1983) Synovial sarcoma. In: Enzinger FM, Weiss SW (eds) Soft tissue tumors. C.V. Mosby Co, St. Louis, p 519
Hudson TM, Hamlin DJ, Enneking WF, Petterssen H (1985) Magnetic resonance imaging of bone and soft tissue tumors: Early experience in 31 patients compared with computed tomography. Skeletal Radiol 13:134
Milgram JW (1977) Synovial chondromatosis. A histopathological study of thirty cases. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 59:792
Moon KL, Genant HK, Helms CA, Chafetz NI, Crooks LE, Kaufman L (1983) Musculoskeletal applications of nuclear magnetic resonance. Radiology 147:161
Schwimmer M, Edelstein G, Geiken JP, Gilula LA (1985) Synovial cysts of the knee: CT evaluation. Radiology 154:175
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sundaram, M., McGuire, M.H., Fletcher, J. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of lesions of synovial origin. Skeletal Radiol 15, 110–116 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350203
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350203