title: A diagnostic approach to popliteal fossa masses.
abstract: There is a myriad of potential mass lesions that occur in the popliteal fossa, which present as palpable masses or are found incidentally on imaging. With a thorough knowledge and understanding of the appearances and locations of these different entities, one can narrow the differential diagnoses in the majority of cases. This will eliminate unnecessary additional investigations and enable a more rapid management. We present a review of frequently encountered and less common entities using an anatomical sieve, with the aim of providing a diagnostic approach to popliteal fossa masses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: doctigs@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Botchu
mesh_terms: D002061:Bursa, Synovial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018205:Neoplasms, Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009379:Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015831:Osteochondroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011151:Popliteal Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*