Synovial Haemangioma of the elbow : a rare paediatric case and imaging dilemma

Abstract EN

Synovial haemangiomas are rare benign vascular proliferations arising in synovium-lined surfaces.

While the knee is by far the joint most commonly involved, this condition can also occur in the elbow.

We report an eight-year-old boy who presented to the National University of Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2016 with a left elbow swelling of one year’s duration.

Magnetic resonance imaging showed a lobulated intraarticular mass with intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging and low signal punctate and linear structures within the hyperintense mass on T2-weighted imaging.

In addition, there was heterogeneous yet avid contrast enhancement on post-gadolinium contrast images.

The mass had juxta-articular extension and bony erosion to the coronoid process and the head of the radius.

Synovial haemangiomas present a diagnostic dilemma.

This report highlights certain imaging characteristics to distinguish this entity from other differential diagnoses.