Primary synovial chondromatosis of the knee with extra-articular popliteal extension in a young woman: a case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/asce.v4i4.573Keywords:
Musculoskeletal System; Diseases Of The Musculoskeletal System; Surgery; Neoplasms; Synovial Chondromatosis; Knee.Abstract
Background: Synovial chondromatosis is a benign neoplasm that primarily affects the knee. It is course is insidious, and it is presentation is usually rare in women.
Objective: To present the clinical course and surgical management of recurrent synovial chondromatosis of the right knee in a young woman.
Case description: We report the case of a 25-year-old woman with chronic right knee pain who had previously undergone arthroscopic surgery. One month prior to consultation, she experienced an acute exacerbation of right knee pain following a torsional injury during physical activity, accompanied by the sensation of intra-articular loose bodies. Clinical evaluation revealed restricted flexion and moderate effusion of the right knee as primary findings. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of multiple nodular formations with both intra- and extra-articular involvement extending into the popliteal fossa. Given the large number of nodules and the history of prior arthroscopy, a combined approach was selected: arthroscopy for tumor (loose body) removal and an open procedure for extensive synovectomy due to tricompartmental synovitis. At 16 weeks, therapeutic goals were achieved, with resolution of pain and recovery of flexion range of motion. No immediate or late complications were observed. Histopathological examination of the nodules established the diagnosis of primary synovial chondromatosis.
Conclusions: Synovial chondromatosis is a condition with challenging diagnosis and management and carries a high risk of recurrence. Extensive synovectomy may offer a favorable recovery profile. Treatment should be individualized according to the clinical context.
Downloads
References
Alamiri, N., Alfayez, S. M., Marwan, Y., Groszman, L., Al Farii, H., & Burman, M. (2025). Arthroscopic management of knee synovial chondromatosis: a systematic review of outcomes and recurrence. International Orthopaedics, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-025-06448-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-025-06448-w
Deng, X., Liu, S., & Liu, H. (2025). Synovial chondromatosis: Novel advances in understanding the pathogenesis and in diagnostic strategies (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 33(33), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13743 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13743
Evans, S., Boffano, M., Chaudhry, S., Jeys, L., & Grimer, R. (2014). Synovial chondrosarcoma arising in synovial chondromatosis. Sarcoma, 2014, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/647939 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/647939
Goyal, S., Shrivastav, S., Ambade, R., Pundkar, A., Lohiya, A., & Naseri, S. (2024). Unveiling the Dance of Crystals: A Surgical Odyssey in the Open Excision of Synovial Chondromatosis in the Right Knee. Cureus, 16(3), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.56901 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.56901
Habusta, S. F., Mabrouk, A., & Tuck, J. A. (2023). Synovial Chondromatosis. In NCBI Bookshelf - StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470463/?report=printable
Jenzer, A. C., Trotta, R., Hechler, B. L., & Powers, D. B. (2023). Synovial chondromatosis: a case series and review of the literature. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, 136(3), 276–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oooo.2023.02.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oooo.2023.02.006
Mo, J., Pan, J., Liu, Y., Feng, W., Li, B., Luo, K., Mo, W., Lin, H., & Liao, S. (2020). Bilateral synovial chondromatosis of the elbow in an adolescent: a case report and literature review. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 21(377), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03322-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03322-1
Neumann, J. A., Garrigues, G. E., Brigman, B. E., & Eward, W. C. (2016). Synovial chondromatosis. JBJS Reviews, 4(5), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.RVW.O.00054 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.RVW.O.00054
ÖZ, Ö., Sezak, M., Doganavsargil, B., Tamsel, İ., Kaya, H., Kaya Bícer, E., Büyüktalanci, E., & Basdemír, G. (2025). Retrospective Evaluation of Synovial Chondromatosis with Histopathological and Clinical Features. Forbes Journal of Medicine, 6(2), 188–195. https://doi.org/10.4274/forbes.galenos.2025.52385 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4274/forbes.galenos.2025.52385
Qi, P.-P., & Wu, Z. (2024). A case of synovial chondromatosis of the knee with 87 free bodies and review of literature. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 28, 2670–2676. https://doi.org/10.26355/eurrev_202404_35895
Shafie, M., Babaei Aghdam, Z., Shirzad Moghaddam, Z., Ayati Firoozabadi, M., Emami Razavi, S. Z., Hosseini, M., & Azadvari, M. (2022). Bilateral primary synovial chondromatosis in the knee joint. Clinical Case Reports, 10, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.6618 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.6618
Soetojo, B., & Soehadak, F. (2020). Synovial chondromatosis in woman with symptoms mimicking early stages osteoarthritis. Qanun Medika, 4(1), 137–142. http://journal.um-surabaya.ac.id/index.php/qanunmedika DOI: https://doi.org/10.30651/jqm.v4i1.2637
Wengle, L. J., Hauer, T. M., Chang, J. S., & Theodoropoulos, J. (2021). Systematic Arthroscopic Treatment of Synovial Chondromatosis of the Knee. Arthroscopy Techniques, 10(10), e2265–e2270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eats.2021.07.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eats.2021.07.001
Yehouenou, R., Rita Oze, K., Imrani, K., Ben El Hosni, K., Moatassim Billah, N., & Nassar, I. (2022). Etiology of a painful knee: Primary synovial chondromatosis. International Journal of Case Reports and Images, 13, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.5348/101310Z01RT2022CR DOI: https://doi.org/10.5348/101280Z01RK2022CR
Zeleke, S. S., Nigussie, K. A., Mesfin, Y. M., Fentie, W. M., Stein, M., & Molla, D. K. (2025). Disseminated synovial chondromatosis of the knee treated by open radical synovectomy using staged combined anterior and posterior approaches: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports , 19(152), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05087-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05497-4
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Bernardo Valdez Moya, Mauro Rumbaut Reyes
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Eres libre de:
- Compartir : copiar y redistribuir el material en cualquier medio o formato
- Adaptar : remezclar, transformar y desarrollar el material
- El licenciante no puede revocar estas libertades siempre y cuando usted cumpla con los términos de la licencia.
En los siguientes términos:
- Atribución : Debe otorgar el crédito correspondiente , proporcionar un enlace a la licencia e indicar si se realizaron cambios . Puede hacerlo de cualquier manera razonable, pero no de ninguna manera que sugiera que el licenciante lo respalda a usted o a su uso.
- No comercial : no puede utilizar el material con fines comerciales .
- CompartirIgual — Si remezcla, transforma o construye sobre el material, debe distribuir sus contribuciones bajo la misma licencia que el original.
- Sin restricciones adicionales : no puede aplicar términos legales ni medidas tecnológicas que restrinjan legalmente a otros hacer algo que la licencia permite.
