Quadriceps Fat Pad Edema

Abstract

The fat pad is the normal fat pad between the suprapatellar recess posteriorly and tendon anteriorly. The term quadriceps fat pad has been used to describe an inflammatory process within the suprapatellar fat, manifested on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as high T2 signal, low T2 signal, and mass effect on the tendon. 1 To our knowledge, there are no reports of fat pad edema as shown on sonography. We report a case in which fat pad edema seen on MRI in a patient with anterior knee pain was demonstrable on sonography and was treated with steroid and local anesthetic injection under sonographic guidance with symptomatic relief.