Perilabral Recess

The perilabral recess of the hip joint is a normal anatomic variant characterized by a small, linear or curvilinear fluid-filled space located between the acetabular labrum and the adjacent joint capsule at the acetabular rim. This recess is most commonly seen at the anteroinferior aspect of the acetabulum, typically at the 8-o’clock position, and represents a partial separation of the labrum from the acetabular rim without extension into the substance of the labrum or through its full thickness.

Joint fluid trapped within the perilabral recess can mimic a perilabral cyst, which could suggest a labral tear. It is important to distinguish the perilabral recess from a labral tear, as the recess does not extend into the labral substance and is not associated with secondary findings such as abnormal labral signal, cartilage lesions, osseous abnormalities, or paralabral cysts.