Possibilities that may need to be considered include chondromalacia patellae, tendonitis, bursitis, fractures, patellar dislocation,
injuries to the internal
knee ligaments/ menisci, infections/ inflammations, arthritis, cyst formation, bone growths/ tumours, neuro-muscular causes, referred pain from other regions etc. An MRI would rule out most structural injuries, while recent injuries/ inflammation is still a possibility to be considered.