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

The authors present two cases in which the ruptured popliteal (Baker's) cysts remained undetected and were diagnosed only during an isotope investigation. The aim was to describe a specific imaging sign, the “arch sign”, that is indicative of ruptured Baker's cysts. In both cases, the whole-body imaging was performed 2 hours after injection of 706.7 MBq of Tc-99m-MDP. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging was performed to localize an accumulation of the radiopharmaceutical. An analysis of literature was performed to connect these cases with previously reported data and to detect the pathognomonic radio image sign of ruptured popliteal cysts. The arch-shaped distribution of the radiopharmaceutical below the knee joints was seen already on the whole-body bone scan image in both cases. An anterior view of SPECT MIP images showed the arched accumulation of the Tc-99m-MDP bone tracer along the postero-medial aspect of the right calf secondary to synovial fluid leak from a ruptured Baker's cyst. The similar arthroscintigrams were published since 1971 without recognizing this sign as pathognomonic. Tc-99m-MDP bone scanning is sensitive for a Baker's cyst with synovial effusion, and distribution of a radiopharmaceutical in the medial posterior calf in a shape of an arch, the arch sign, may serve as an indicator of a ruptured popliteal cyst.
Knee Joint ; Popliteal Cyst ; Synovial Fluid ; Tomography, Emission-Computed ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Popliteal cyst is a common peri-knee cyst, also known as a Baker's cyst. With the current development of popliteal cysts, the pathogenesis is mainly due to increased pressure in the knee joint caused by various reasons, leading to a fluid-filled sac that can form behind the knee as a result of enlargement of the gastrocnemius-semimembranosus bursa. The current diagnostic methods include X-ray computed, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance. Among them, magnetic resonance imaging is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of popliteal cysts. There are various treatments, including conservative treatment, traditional surgical resection and arthroscopic surgery. In recent years, the focus of the treatment of popliteal cysts has gradually shifted from the simple removal of cysts to arthroscopic treatment of intra-articular lesions and the treatment of joint-cyst communication, and achieved a good effect. However, there are still controversies about the most effective treatment, and the best surgery method is still uncertained. It is hoped that high quality prospective studies will be able to directly compare different surgery methods, so as to select the best treatment for popliteal cyst. This article reviews past literature research and describes in detail the epidemiology, pathological mechanism, clinical manifestations and signs, auxiliary examination, diagnosis and differential diagnosis and clinical treatment of popliteal cysts. Different diagnosis methods and treatment methods are compared and summarized to provide basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Arthroscopy ; Bursa, Synovial ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Popliteal Cyst ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of total arthroscopic surgery and traditional surgery for popliteal cyst. METHODS: From August 2014 to July 2017, 60 cases of popliteal cyst were treated with total arthroscopy or traditional surgery respectively. In total arthroscopy group, there were 30 patients including 7 males and 23 females with an average age of (55.81±8.53) years old; the duration of the disease was (3.52±1.12) years;according to Rauschning-Lingdgren grading, 7 cases were grade I, 19 cases were grade II, 4 cases were grade III. In traditional surgical group, there were 30 patients including 5 males and 25 females with an average age of (57.93±9.84) years old; the duration of the disease was (3.48±1.34) years; according to Rauschning-Lingdgren grading, 5 cases were grade I, 21 cases were grade II, 4 cases were grade III. Preoperative symptoms involved such as arthralgia and swelling after knee joint and limited mobility. MRI confirmed a popliteal cyst. Arthroscopic surgery and traditional surgical was used respectively. Incision length, operation time, average stay, total hospital cost and Lysholm score of two groups were compared. RESULTS: In the total arthroscopic group, 1 case suffered from nerve injury, and all cases' incision healed well. In the traditional surgical group, there was 1 case of incision infection, 2 cases of poor healing, 1 case of nerve injury and 1 case of recurrence. All 60 cases were followed up for 6 to 30 months with an average of (13.3±6.5) months. After operation, the symptoms of knee joint arthralgia and swelling, discomfort were significantly improved in the two groups. There were statistically significant differences in incision length, operation time, average stay, total hospitalcost and Lysholm score 6 months after surgery(<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The total arthroscopic resection of popliteal cyst, via anterior approach to having a knee joint cavity exploration and treatment of meniscus and bursa, while combined with posteromedial approach for cyst excision would promise a minimal surgery and less pain for patients. Patients will have a rapider recovery, lower recurrence rate and less complication. The total arthroscopic resection easy to accepting for the patient and having a better clinical curative effect is obviously superior to the traditional surgery.
Aged ; Arthroscopy ; Bursa, Synovial ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Popliteal Cyst ; Treatment Outcome

Soft tissues, which are widespread in body, are derived from a common primitive mesenchyme and the tumors arising from them tend to closely resemble the prototype tissue in varying degree. Some soft tissue tumors have benign course, which can be cured by local excision and the other have malignant course being resistant to therapy and resulting in recurrence to other organ of tissues. The authors reviewed 279cases of soft tissue tumors which had been treated at Department of Orthopedic Surgery in Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine from January 1983 to December 1987. 1. Among 279cases of soft tissue tumors, 257(92.1%) were benign and 22(7.9%) were malignant. 2. Benign soft tissue tumors were common two times in female, and malignant tumors were relatively common in male. 3. Common sites of soft tissue tumors were 92 csses about the knee, 69 csses in the hand and wrist, 44 cases in the foot, 26 cases in the leg, 15 cases in the thigh, 14 cases about the elbow, 10 cases in the arm and foresrm. 4. The most common benign tumors was ganglion which was followed by Baker's cyst, hemangioma, fibromatosis, lipoma, epidermal cyst in decreasing order of incidence. Among malignant tumors, fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, malignant schwannoma, synovial sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma were common. 5. Most of the benign tumors was taken by locsl excision, and malignant tumors were were trested by wide resection with combination of chemotherapy. 6. Local recurrences of benign tumors were developed in 26(10.1%) out of 257cases, especially in fibromatosis and hemangioma.
Arm ; Clinical Study ; Drug Therapy ; Elbow ; Epidermal Cyst ; Extremities ; Female ; Fibroma ; Fibrosarcoma ; Foot ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hand ; Hemangioma ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Humans ; Incidence ; Knee ; Leg ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Lipoma ; Male ; Mesoderm ; Neurilemmoma ; Orthopedics ; Popliteal Cyst ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; Thigh ; Wrist

Intraspinal synovial cysts are commonly found in the lumbar spine and occur less commonly in the cervical spine. Occurrence of a cyst in the thoracic spine causing myelopathy is extremely rare. We report here the radiological findings of a case of a thoracic intraspinal synovial cyst that caused myelopathy at the T2-3 level with an accompanying review of the clinical literature.
Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spine ; Synovial Cyst

Intraspinal synovial cysts are rare but they are being documented with increasing frequency due to improvements in radiological imaging. However, hemorrhage into synovial cysts is uncommon, and affected patients may present with acute onset radiculopathy. This type of hemorrhage is known to result from rupture of fragile neoangiogenic vessels in the cyst wall, due to a traumatic event or anticoagulant therapy. Here, the authors present a rare case of hemorrhagic lumbar synovial cyst caused by spinal instability after microscopic discectomy. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of hemorrhagic lumbar synovial cyst caused by spinal instability following microscopic discectomy in the absence of a traumatic event or anticoagulant therapy. We discuss the pathophysiological mechanism of this uncommon entity and provide a review of the literature.
Diskectomy* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Radiculopathy ; Rupture ; Synovial Cyst*

We report the case of a patient with a retro-odontoid synovial cyst, coupled with os odontoideum and atlantoaxial instability. We observed the regression of the cyst after C1-2 transarticular screw fixation and posterior wiring without direct surgical excision of the cyst on the follow-up MR images, which were obtained two and three months postoperatively. The myelopathic symptoms and signs of this patient were resolved by degrees.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Synovial Cyst*

Synovial cysts occur typically in peripheral joints and tendon sheaths. They rarely occur intraspinally. Recently we have experienced a case of extradural synovial cyst in the cervical spine, causing a myelopathy which results in progressive motor weakness and sensory change. The case is therefore presented with review of literatures.
Joints ; Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spine ; Synovial Cyst* ; Tendons

Synovial cysts are recognized as an uncommon cause of radicular and myelopathic symptoms. They are most frequently found in the lumbar region. The cervical spine or cervicothoracic junction is a rare location for a degenerative intraspinal synovial cyst as compared with the lumbar spine. At given cervical spinal levels, synovial cysts probably share clinical features with disc herniation and stenosis. However, the pathogenesis of synovial cysts remains still controversial. Here, we report a rare case of a synovial cyst in the lower cervical spine presented as Brown-Sequard syndrome and include a brief review of the literature. To the best of our knowledge, no previous report has been issued in the English literature on a synovial cyst presenting with Brown-Sequard syndrome. Neurologic function recovered completely after complete removal of the cyst and expansive laminoplasty.
Brown-Sequard Syndrome* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Lumbosacral Region ; Spine ; Synovial Cyst*