Lucent Patellar Lesions: A Pictorial Review

Abstract

A radiographically lucent patellar lesion may represent a variety of etiologies, ranging from more commonly seen degenerative, metabolic, infectious, developmental, posttraumatic, postoperative causes to rarer benign and malignant neoplasms. Clinical symptoms, surgical history, laboratory values, and radiographic features may help narrow the differential. In addition, radiographic features such as circumscribed borders and sharply delineated margins favor benign lesions while ill-defined margins suggest malignant etiologies. This case series illustrates the imaging findings and explores relevant clinical findings in a variety of interesting lucent patellar lesions.