title: Popliteal cysts and associated disorders of the knee. Critical review with MR imaging.
abstract: We have studied retrospectively the epidemiological features of popliteal cysts in adults and the incidence of associated intra-articular disorders in a series of 1001 patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging who had been randomly referred to our institution. Images of popliteal cysts were seen in 4.7% of this group which is lower than in other studies with different imaging techniques. A communication with the joint was invariably found. The cysts were associated with one, or more, disorders detected by MRI in 94%. The commonest lesions were meniscal (83%), frequently involving the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, chondral (43%), and anterior cruciate ligament tears. Our data suggest that intra-articular disorders may play an important role in the pathogenesis of popliteal cysts in adults.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Università di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sansone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Ponti
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Paluello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: del Maschio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011151:Popliteal Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis