Iliopsoas bursa

Cause, clinical and ultrasound findings

• Pain and clicking in the anterior hip.

• These symptoms are common in young ballet dancers and in patients who have just undergone a hip replacement, especially one performed using a hip resurfacing procedure due to the large acetabular cup.

• The iliopsoas tendon is identified in cross section as hyperechoic when looking transversely with the ultrasound probe. It sits underneath the iliopsoas muscle and lies just lateral to the femoral neurovascular bundle.

• Hypoechogenic fluid is seen around the tendon in tendinopathy.

• Hypoechogenic fluid is seen under the tendon in a bursitis.