Table 1 Ultrasound findings of Hoffa’s fat pad in children with obesity

Subhawong et al. [28]

B-mode ultrasound

- Fibrous areas: multiple foci of increased echogenicity.

- Edema: homogeneous decrease in echogenicity.

Basha et al. [10]

Power Doppler

- Enhanced flow signals in the inflamed Hoffa’s fat pad, indicative of inflammation and neovascularization.

Satake et al. [33]

Elastography

- Fibrosis of Hoffa’s fat pad detected as increased elastographic signal.

Nalbant et al. [32]

Elastography

- Increased stiffness in thickened areas of the fat pad.

- Softer signals in lesion areas.

- Increased elasticity in edematous areas.

General Findings (Multiple Authors) [10, 28, 32, 33]

Combined techniques

- Presence of synovial fluid and synovial thickening associated with inflammation (Subhawong et al., Basha et al.).

- Mechanical property changes in inflamed or edematous tissue areas, including stiffness variations (Nalbant et al., Satake et al.).

Satake et al. [33]

Combined techniques

- Highlights the primary role of ultrasound in managing inflammation in children with obesity, enabling targeted treatments