MR Imaging of Temporal Evolution of Suprapatellar Plica Synovialis Syndrome: Synovitis, Lipoma Arborescence and Rice Bodies

Synovial plicae are frequently seen in knee joint. Majority of synovial plicae are asymptomatic. Rarely, plicae become thickened and fibrosed, leading to inelasticity, which can snap over the femoral condyle and patella causing synovitis, chondral damage and pain. Hypertrophic and fibrotic plicae are found in 3% of knee arthroscopies and will be the only finding in patients with plica syndrome, most commonly seen with medial plica. Suprapatellar plica syndrome is extremely rare. The authors report the unique MR findings of suprapatellar plica syndrome in five different patients that show the temporal evolution from synovitis to lipoma arborescence and rice bodies.