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DOI: 10.1177/0009922806293870 © 2007 SAGE Publications Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis Causing Painless Chronic Knee Swelling in an AdolescentDepartment of Pediatrics, Sports Medicine and Adolescent Medicine Division, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, It is uncommon for an adolescent to present with a painless chronic knee effusion without a history of trauma. Acute knee effusions are usually caused by internal derangement, patellar dislocations, or fractures. The differential diagnosis of a chronic knee effusion must include the more uncommon diagnoses of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, reactive arthritis, synovial osteochondromatosis, synovial hemangioma, synovial sarcoma, or pigmented villonodular synovitis. Radiographic imaging, plain radiographs, and magnetic resonance imaging in addition to a biopsy specimen are most helpful in differentiating these diagnoses. Pigmented villonodular synovitis is an uncommon diagnosis that is rarely seen in an adolescent. Treatment includes synovectomy via arthroscopy or open arthrotomy.
Key Words: pigmented villonodular synovitis chronic knee effusion adolescent painless
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