Popliteal Cyst (Subscribe)  

The patient presented with a swollen, painful left calf and persistent itching on the skin of the calf. Ultrasonography showed a ruptured popliteal cyst with minimal hemorrhage and fluid collection within the fascial compartments and gastrocnemius muscle. Color Doppler ultrasound showed a patent popliteal vein and artery and duplex Doppler...

Three consecutive patients with ruptured Baker's cysts, verified by duplex scan, were found to have ecchymosis on the dorsum of the foot. The appearance of ecchymosis can be helpful in differentiating a ruptured cyst from cellulitis or deep-vein thrombosis.
Ruptured Baker's cyst causes ecchymosis of the foot. A differential clinical sign. von...

A36-year-old woman presented with sudden onset of calf pain which became more severe over 48 hours. Several months previously she had undergone surgery for disrupted cruciate ligaments. On physical examination the calf was hot and swollen and the patient was running a low-grade fever. Deep venous thrombosis was suspected. However, the presence of a joint effusion was also noted and it...

The authors present the case of a patient who developed a ruptured Baker's cyst. Methods of diagnosis and treatment are discussed.
Ruptured pyogenic Baker's cyst. Mannino M, Marino C, Chawla K. J Natl Med Assoc. 1988 Sep;80(9):1018-9, 1022

Potentially sclerotherapy may be applicable to treat many other symptomatic cysts within musculoskeletal system.
The Interventional Pain Management community is well trained for needle placements into these joints. Perhaps, the treatment modality discussed here, may be worthwhile studying in efforts to evaluate whether it has the potential to offer a curative response...

CONCLUSIONS: Prolotherapy in this case study seemed to be an effective treatment for Baker's cyst in this patient.
Sclerotherapy of Baker's cyst with imaging confirmation of resolution. Centeno CJ, Schultz J, Freeman M. Pain Physician. 2008 Mar-Apr;11(2):257-61. full text available