title: The popliteal cyst.
abstract: A popliteal cyst, originally called Baker's cyst, is a synovial fluid-filled mass located in the popliteal fossa. The most common synovial popliteal cyst is considered to be a distension of the bursa located beneath the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. Usually, in an adult patient, an underlying intra-articular disorder is present. In children, the cyst can be isolated and the knee joint normal. The anatomy, etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, imaging and treatment modalities of the popliteal cyst are presented. The authors try to answer some questions dealing with this condition. Is the cyst isolated, can it be treated as such, is its origin always well-defined and does surgical excision provide a permanent cure?
authors.affiliation: Département de Chirurgie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, 1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland. daniel.fritschy@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fritschy
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fasel
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Imbert
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verdonk
authors.forename: Carl Joachim
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wirth
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011151:Popliteal Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009626:Terminology as Topic