Baker's cysts are one of the most common cystic lesions around the knee joint and mainly caused by fluid distension of the gastrocnemius-semimembranous bursa that is situated along the medial side of the popliteal fossa. Typically, a Baker's cyst extends along the intermuscular planes around the knee joint and may enlarge any direction. However, it is mostly located in the inferomedial or superficial layers of the knee joint and less commonly extends laterally or proximally. Expansion of the cyst tends to respect the intermuscular planes, and Baker's cysts along the intramuscular route have been rarely reported. Thus, we report a case of Baker's cyst with intramuscular extension into the vastus medialis muscle.
Knee Joint ; Muscles ; Popliteal Cyst ; Quadriceps Muscle

Although a popliteal cyst is most commonly identified as an asymptomatic mass occurring just below the popliteal fossa, the fluid may further extravasate into a deep compartment, causing compression with symptoms of local pain and tenderness. When the popliteal vein is compressed by a popliteal cyst, it may develop the symptom simulating the deep vein thrombosis, when the popliteal artery is compressed, it may develop the symptom simulating the ischemic pain and intermittent claudication. It is unusual for popliteal cysts to involve a nerve. When such does occur, it usually involves the tibial nerve, very rarely the peroneal nerve. It is important to diagnose a popliteal cyst early and to differentiate it from a ganglionic cyst, thrombophlebitis or a popliteal aneurysm, to effect optimal therapy and to obviate a potential neuropathy. We are now reporting a case of a thirty four-year-old male who had a popliteal cyst causing tibial nerve compression.
Aneurysm ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Intermittent Claudication ; Male ; Peroneal Nerve ; Popliteal Artery ; Popliteal Cyst* ; Popliteal Vein ; Thrombophlebitis ; Tibial Nerve* ; Venous Thrombosis

Nodular fasciitis is rare and benign fibroblastic proliferative disease which tends to be confused microscopically with spindle cell sarcoma. It is a distinctive lesion and a very important one because of its ability to simulate a malignant process. Histopathologically, nodular fasciitis can be grouped into three subtypes based on their relation with the fascia: subcutaneous, fascial, intramuscular. We report a case of nodular fasciitis misdiagnosed as Baker's cyst in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Fascia ; Fasciitis* ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Popliteal Cyst* ; Sarcoma

PURPOSE: We retrospectively compared plain radiographic and MR imaging findings of acutely ruptured and unruptured Baker's cysts to determine which factors cause rupture of BCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MR findings for 44 Baker's cysts (non-ruptured Baker's cysts in 30 patients and ruptured Baker's cysts in 14 patients) were evaluated. On the MR images, the characteristics of the Baker's cysts, meniscal tears, and the quantity of joint effusions were evaluated. On plain radiographs, the grade of osteoarthritis of the affected knee was evaluated. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference with respect to the size of Baker's cysts, meniscal tears, and the grade of osteoarthritis between ruptured and unruptured Baker's cysts. The wall thicknesses, inner signal intensities, inner septations, and the quantity of joint effusions were statistically different between the ruptured and unruptured Baker's cysts. CONCLUSION: The most significant imaging finding which influences the rupture of a Baker's cyst is the quantity of the joint effusion of the affected knee. In management of the patients with Baker's cysts, the quantity of joint effusions should be kept in mind for preventative or treatment trials involving ruptured Baker's cysts.
Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis ; Popliteal Cyst ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture

Baker's cyst is found as most frequent cystic mass around the knee occurring between medial head of gastrocnemius muscle and semimembranosus muscle. The proximal or posterolateral extension of the cyst had been rarely reported and the cyst into the surrounding muscular tissue extremely rare. Intramuscular Baker's cyst that we report was found between lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle and popliteus tendon, and then extended into the plantaris muscle. With review of the literature, we here report a very rare case of plantaris muscular extension of Baker's cyst.
Head ; Knee ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Popliteal Cyst ; Tendons

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of arthroscopic direct shaving cystectomy of popliteal cyst. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 14 cases of popliteal cyst by arthroscopic shaving cystectomy from March 1998 to October 1999. The mean duration of follow up was 18 months. We estimated operative time, and checked sonography 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Pain, ROM and recurrence were checked 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: The average operation time was 45 minutes (31-58), and the duration to regain full pain free motion of knee was the next day or two days after surgery. There was no recurrence, no discomfort or pain and all were free of ROM. Rauschning and Lindgren Criteria were all Grade 0 and Grade 1. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic shaving cystectomy using a motorized shaver is an effective alternative to the open technique for popliteal cystectomy.
Cystectomy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Knee ; Operative Time ; Popliteal Cyst* ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical symptoms and the associated intra-articular disorders of the polpliteal cyst. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 56 patients, 60 cases of the popliteal cysts which. Had been treated with excision of the cyst after arthroscopy between May 1991 and February 2000. Arthroscopic findings and clinical results of the patients who had popliteal cyst were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty nine patients of the sixty patients of who had popliteal cyst showed intra-articular disorders. Tear of the meniscus and patello-femoral arthrosis with cartilage lesions were the most frequent intra-articular lesions. In 4 cases, recurrence of the popliteal cyst was noted. Two patients had tear of the meniscus and two had no intra-articular disorders. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that popliteal cysts frequently combined with intra-articular disorders. Arthroscopy of the knee joint seems worthwhile method for the patients who had popliteal cyst
Arthroscopy ; Cartilage ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Knee* ; Popliteal Cyst* ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: To present the surgical procedure of arthroscopic decompression and shaving of popliteal cyst using posteromedial portal. OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE: After diagnostic knee arthroscopic examination, if there is associated intra-articular pathology with popliteal cyst, appropriate arthroscopic procedure has to be performed to adress the associated intra-articular pathology. It is the most important procedure to find the opening of connection between joint cavity and popliteal cyst at posteromedial compartment using anterolateral or posteromedial In some cases the capsular fold overlie the opening of connection, so thorough diagnostic examnation is mandatory. When the opening of connection is visualized, it is enlarged about 8 mm by the arthroscopic decompressive procedure of popliteal cyst using arthroscopic shaver which is approached via the posteromedial portal. After then arthroscope is positioned at posteromedial portal and advanced into popliteal cyst via enlarged opening to visualize the inside of popliteal cyst. While visualizing the inside of popliteal cyst, a 18 gauge spinal needle is introduced by outside-in technique from medial side of the skin overlying popliteal cyst. And then we make trans-cystic portal at the site of spinal needle by incising the skin with # 11 blade and arthroscopic shaver is introduced within popliteal cyst via trans-cystic portal, and arthroscopic cystectomy is performed to shave the inner wall of popliteal cyst with arthroscopic shaver. DISCUSSION: The arthroscopic procedure for popliteal cyst is an alternative of traditional surgical removal of popliteal cyst and it is expected to diagnose and to manage associated intra-articular pathology and to perform arthroscopic decompression and cystectomy effectively using posteromedial portal.
Arthroscopes ; Cystectomy ; Decompression* ; Joints ; Knee ; Needles ; Pathology ; Popliteal Cyst* ; Skin

It is not infrequent to observe the reeurrence of the Bakers cyst. Recurrence of the cystic lesions are more frequent in wide based type than in pedicle type due to difficult ,identification and inadequate eradication of the cyst wall. We injected methylene blue into the cyst after aspiration of the fluid. Blue stained wall enables the surgeons to idendify the whole inner surface of the cyst, and lessens the chance of missing a portion of it. We could reduce the recurrence rate near to zero percent after adopting this technique upto now. Broad based type is more prone to recurr and the whole recurred five cases were belong to this type.
Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Knee ; Methylene Blue ; Popliteal Cyst ; Recurrence ; Surgeons

Herniation of the synovium from the joint space into perioarticular soft tissues is a relatively common complication of adult rheumatoid arthritis, but rare in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The most completely described is the popliteal cysts. However, cysts have rarely been reported in the arm. Authors experienced a case of a boy with systemic form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis who have bicipital synovial cysts in both arm and report this with a review of literature.
Adult ; Arm ; Arthritis, Juvenile* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Popliteal Cyst ; Synovial Cyst ; Synovial Membrane