Bakers Cyst eMedicine Radiology

Description: The most common mass in the popliteal fossa, Baker cyst, also termed popliteal cyst, results from fluid distention of the gastrocnemio-semimembranosus bursa. The eponym honors the work of Dr William Morrant Baker. In 1877, Baker described 8 cases of periarticular cysts caused by synovial fluid that had escaped from the knee joint and formed a new sac outside the joint. The common underlying conditions were osteoarthritis and Charcot joint.
Liem T Bui-Mansfield, MD Rush A Youngberg, MD Updated: Sep 18, 2009