title: Ganglion cysts of the posterior cruciate ligament.
abstract: Ganglion cysts of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are uncommon lesions found incidentally on MRI and arthroscopy. Twenty patients (11 males and nine females) with the mean age of 35 years presenting with a variety of knee signs and symptoms were found to have PCL cysts on MRI. Out of these, thirteen patients (65%) had isolated symptomatic PCL cysts and seven patients had associated chondral and meniscal lesions. Eight out of the 20 patients (40%) gave a history of antecedent trauma. On arthroscopy, the majority of the cysts were situated at the midsubstance of the ligament with inter-cruciate distension and no involvement of the substance of the ligament. The content of the cysts varied with the majority having yellowish viscous fluid and three containing serous and bloody fluid. All cysts were successfully treated arthroscopically through standard anterior, posteromedial and posterolateral portals with no signs of recurrence on MRI at a mean followup of 24 months. PCL cysts may clinically mimic meniscal or chondral lesions and preoperatively, MRI is essential for the diagnosis of ganglion cysts arising from the PCL. Ganglion cysts of the PCL can be successfully treated arthroscopically using standard portals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inje University, Ilsanpaik Hospital, Ilsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Gautam M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Kyung Wook
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Nha
authors.forename: Sachin P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Dong Ju
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Ki Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jung Ro
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Suk Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: Jeong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Ryoon
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Baek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D045888:Ganglion Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome