Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synovial hemangioma of the knee joint in pediatrics: our case series and review of literature

  • Original Article • KNEE - TUMORS
  • Published:
European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Synovial hemangioma is a benign intra-articular tumor. This condition is rare and unfamiliar soft tissue tumor to most orthopedic surgeons. Delayed diagnosis causes osteoarthritic damage and the destruction of joint structures due to infiltrating tumor growth. We discuss the patterns of tumor location and the appropriate surgical procedure for this condition.

Methods

Ten patients were treated surgically in our department. These comprised five males and five females ranging in age from 0 to 17 years (average age 12.4 years). Preoperative diagnosis was made using clinical findings, plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging. The follow-up time after surgery was at least 3 years.

Results

The main symptom was pain. Three cases revealed hemarthrosis. The range of motion of the affected knee joint was limited in five cases. The average time between onset of pain and diagnosis was 3 years. Tumor location was classified into three patterns: (1) anterior patellofemoral joint type in five, (2) posterior popliteal type in two and (3) diffuse proliferation type in two. Open arthrotomy with synovectomy was performed in all cases. No tumor recurrences were experienced after a minimum follow-up of 3 years.

Conclusion

Clinical symptom and magnetic resonance imaging are helpful to obtain the diagnosis and determine the extent of the lesion. Depending on the tumor location, synovial hemangioma in the knee joint can be classified into patellofemoral, popliteal and diffuse types. Open arthrotomy with sufficient tumor and synovectomy is important to prevent tumor recurrence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bouchut E (1856) Tumeur erectile de l’articulation du genou. Gaz Hop 29:379–381

    Google Scholar 

  2. Okahashi K, Sugimoto K, Iwai M, Tanaka M, Fujisawa Y, Takakura Y (2004) Intra-articular synovial hemangioma; a rare cause of knee pain and swelling. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 124:571–573

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Aalberg JR (1990) Synovial hemangioma of the knee. A case report. Acta Orthop Scand 61:88–89

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Holzapfel BM, Geitner U, Diebold J, Glaser C, Jansson V, Dürr HR (2009) Synovial hemangioma of the knee joint with cystic invasion of the femur: a case report and review of the literature. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 129:143–148

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Moon NF (1973) Synovial hemangioma of the knee joint. A review of previously reported cases and inclusion of two new cases. Clin Orthop Relat Res 90:183–190

    Google Scholar 

  6. Price NJ, Cundy PJ (1997) Synovial hemangioma of the knee. J Pediatr Orthop 17:74–77

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Suh JT, Cheon SJ, Choi SJ (2003) Synovial hemangioma of the knee. Arthroscopy 19:27–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Meislin RJ, Parisien JS (1990) Arthroscopic excision of synovial hemangioma of the knee. Arthroscopy 6:64–67

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Shapiro GS, Fanton GS (1993) Intraarticular hemangioma of the knee. Arthroscopy 9:464–466

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Watanabe S, Takahashi T, Fujibuchi T, Komori H, Kamada K, Nose M, Yamamoto H (2010) Synovial hemangioma of the knee joint in a 3-year-old girl. J Pediatr Orthop B 19:515–520

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Abe T, Tomatsu T, Tazaki K (2002) Synovial hemangioma of the knee in young children. J Pediatr Orthop B 11:293–297

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ares-Rodriguez O, Soldado-Carrera F, Fontecha CG, Aguirre Canyadell M (2008) Synovial hemangioma in the knee of a 10-month-old boy. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 128:583–584

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. De Gori M, Galasso O, Gasparini G (2014) Synovial hemangioma and osteoarthritis of the knee: a case report. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 48:607–610

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Cotten A, Flipo RM, Herbaux B, Gougeon F, Lecomte-Houcke M, Chastanet P (1995) Synovial haemangioma of the knee. A frequently misdiagnosed lesion. Skeletal Radiol 24:257–261

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Del Notaro C, Hug T (2003) Intra-articular hemangioma of the knee as a cause of knee pain. Arthroscopy 19:12–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Dalmonte P, Granata C, Fulcheri E, Vercellino N, Gregorio S, Magnano G (2012) Intra-articular venous malformations of the knee. J Pediatr Orthop 32:394–398

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Gould ES, Potter HG, Huvos A, Furie R, Crystal KS (1991) Case report 671: arteriovenous malformation of the right lower extremity with associated intraosseous hemangiomatosis. Skeletal Radiol 20:303–305

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Krøner K, Fruensgaard S (1989) Synovial venous hemangioma of the knee joint. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 108:253–254

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Devaney K, Vinh TN, Sweet DE (1993) Synovial hemangioma: a report of 20 cases with differential diagnostic considerations. Hum Pathol 24:737–745

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. De Palma AF, Manler GG (1964) Haemangioma of synovial membrane. Clin Orthop Relat Res 32:93–99

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bennet GE, Cobey MC (1939) Hemangioma of joints; report of five cases. Arch Surg 38:487–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Maeyama A, Saeki K, Hamasaki M, Kato Y, Naito M (2014) Deformation of the patellofemoral joint caused by synovial hemangioma: a case report. J Pediatr Orthop B 23:346–349

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lopez-Oliva CL, Wang EH, Cañal JP (2015) Synovial haemangioma of the knee: an under recognised condition. Int Orthop 39:2037–2040

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Akgun I, Kesmezacar H, Ogut T, Dervisoglu S (2003) Intra-articular hemangioma of the knee. Arthroscopy 19:17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Greenspan A, Azouz EM, Matthews J, Decarie JC (1995) Synovial hemangioma: imaging features in eight histologically proven cases, review of the literature, and differential diagnosis. Skeletal Radiol 24:583–590

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Llauger J, Monill JM, Palmer J, Clotet M (1995) Synovial hemangioma of the knee: MRI findings in two cases. Skeletal Radiol 24:579–581

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Wen DW, Tan TJ, Rasheed S (2016) Synovial haemangioma of the knee joint: an unusual cause of knee pain in a 14-month old girl. Skeletal Radiol 45:827–831

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Farkas C, Morocz I, Szappanos L, Szepesi K (1998) The importance of arthroscopy in diagnosing synovial haemangioma of the knee joint. Acta Chir Hung 37:17–22

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Bruns J, Eggers-Stroeder G, von Torklus D (1994) Synovial hemangioma—a rare benign synovial tumor. Report of four cases. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2:186–189

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Keiichi Muramatsu, Ryuta Iwanaga and Takashi Sakai have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan

    Keiichi Muramatsu, Ryuta Iwanaga & Takashi Sakai

Authors
  1. Keiichi Muramatsu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryuta Iwanaga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Takashi Sakai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keiichi Muramatsu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Muramatsu, K., Iwanaga, R. & Sakai, T. Synovial hemangioma of the knee joint in pediatrics: our case series and review of literature. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 29, 1291–1296 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-019-02431-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-019-02431-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation