Lipoma arborescens: High-resolution ultrasonographic findings

Three patients with lipoma arborescens of the knee joint were evaluated wit h high resolution ultra-sonography All patients demonstrated a hyperechoic, frondlike mass in the suprapatellar bursa with a large associated effusion . All had popliteal cyst formation without involvement by the mass. Dynamic compression and manipulation of the suprapatellar effusion demonstrated pl iable and flexible nature of mass with bending and waving of the frondlike mass in real time. Comparison with MR imaging demonstrated similar extent, location, and morphology of the mass. The characteristic features of this l esion as well as its distribution in the knee joint can be demonstrated rea dily by sonography.