title: Popliteal cysts in children. The case against surgery.
abstract: The natural history of 120 popliteal cysts in children has been reviewed. Of seventy untreated cysts fifty-one disappeared spontaneously during a mean period of one year and eight months. Of fifty cysts submitted to operation, twenty-one recurred in a mean period of seven months. Three children with recurrences had more than one further operation. Most popliteal cysts in children disappear spontaneously, and operation without very good reason is unjustified.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002061:Bursa, Synovial; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000601:surgery*