MRI chronic patellar tendinopathy

A and B show T2-weighted, fat-suppressed proton density MRI images (A: sagittal view; B: axial view) of the left knee of a 19-year-old basketball player who had been diagnosed previously with patellar tendinopathy. The MRI shows normal articular cartilage of the trochlea, patella, and tibiofemoral joint. The quadriceps tendon appears normal. The patellar tendon shows prominent signs of tendinopathy, and intrasubstance tears are seen throughout the tendon and appear to have increased in size compared with those seen on ultrasound images obtained 2.5 years earlier. In addition, residual signs of a prior Osgood-Schlatter condition are present at the patella tendon insertion. Edema is present in Hoffa's fat pad inferomedially.