Ganglion cysts of the cruciate ligaments.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the MR findings of ganglion cysts of the cruciate ligaments in correlation with clinical findings.


METHODS
We reviewed 12 patients with ganglion cysts of the cruciate ligaments obtained from a medical record of 4153 consecutive patients referred for knee MR examinations. All patients presented with chronic knee pain and 4 had restriction of knee motion. The MR imaging findings of the cysts were evaluated and correlated with clinical manifestations.


RESULTS
Seven ganglion cysts were found in the posterior cruciate ligaments and 5 in the anterior cruciate ligaments. All cysts were lobulated (n=7) or fusiform (n=5) in shape, 1.8-4.5 cm in size, along the posterior surface in the proximal or distal end of the ligaments. Ten patients had arthroscopic resection or aspiration of their cysts, became symptom free and had no recurrence on follow-up MR examinations. Two cysts reduced in size spontaneously by conservative treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
MR imaging can offer useful information in detection and diagnosis of patients with chronic knee pain due to ganglion cysts of the cruciate ligaments. The size and location of the ganglion cysts can attribute to the clinical manifestations.
Huang
G-S
GS
Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Lee
C-H
CH
Chan
W P
WP
Taylor
J A M
JA
Hsueh
C-J
CJ
Juan
C-J
CJ
Chen
C-Y
CY
Yu
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery