[Clinical significance of arthroscopic synovial biopsy in the diagnosis of knee synovitis].

Eighty-two patients (49 females and 33 males, mean age 38.2 years) underwent arthroscopic synovial biopsy in the course of treatment for chronic knee synovitis. After histopatological analysis of the samples Fritz et al. criteria were used for their classification. In 16 cases of specific synovitis clinical diagnosis was always confirmed by histopathology. In 66 patients with nonspecific synovitis lymphoplasmatic and serofibrous type prevailed. In 8 cases with dominant non-specific synovitis histological features of specific synovitis have been also found and correct clinical diagnosis has been established. Arthroscopic synovial biopsy increases diagnostic potential in the synovitis of unclear etiology.