Prevalence and Size of Meniscal Cysts, Ganglionic Cysts, Synovial Cysts of the Popliteal Space, Fluid-Filled Bursae, and Other Fluid Collections in Asymptomatic Knees on MR Imaging

Prevalence and Size of Meniscal Cysts, Ganglionic Cysts, Synovial Cysts of the Popliteal Space, Fluid-Filled Bursae, and Other Fluid Collections in Asymptomatic Knees on MR Imaging

Frank T. C. Tschirch¹, Marius R. Schmid¹, Christian W. A. Pfirrmann¹, José Romero², Juerg Hodler¹ and Marco Zanetti¹

^¹ Department of Radiology, Orthopedic University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstr. 340, CH-8008 Züurich, Switzerland.
^² Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic University Hospital Balgrist, CH-8008 Zürich, Switzerland.

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Fig. 1A. —Meniscal cyst, meniscal tear, and synovial cysts of the popliteal space in asymptomatic left knee of 41-year-old man. Sagittal proton density–weighted MR image (TR/TE, 3610/14) (A) and coronal STIR MR image (5550/35; inversion time, 160 msec) (B) show tear of posterior horn of medial meniscus (arrows). Multilobulated meniscal cyst (arrowheads) with maximal size of 16 mm is visible adjacent to meniscal tear.

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Fig. 1B. —Meniscal cyst, meniscal tear, and synovial cysts of the popliteal space in asymptomatic left knee of 41-year-old man. Sagittal proton density–weighted MR image (TR/TE, 3610/14) (A) and coronal STIR MR image (5550/35; inversion time, 160 msec) (B) show tear of posterior horn of medial meniscus (arrows). Multilobulated meniscal cyst (arrowheads) with maximal size of 16 mm is visible adjacent to meniscal tear.

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Fig. 1C. —Meniscal cyst, meniscal tear, and synovial cysts of the popliteal space in asymptomatic left knee of 41-year-old man. Two contiguous sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR images (3610/95) reveal synovial cysts of the popliteal space (Baker's cyst) consisting of gastrocnemius portion (solid straight arrows) and semimembranosus portion (curved arrows), with craniocaudal diameters of 50 and 29 mm, respectively. Note semimembranosus tendon (open arrow, C) between two portions of cyst.

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Fig. 1D. —Meniscal cyst, meniscal tear, and synovial cysts of the popliteal space in asymptomatic left knee of 41-year-old man. Two contiguous sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR images (3610/95) reveal synovial cysts of the popliteal space (Baker's cyst) consisting of gastrocnemius portion (solid straight arrows) and semimembranosus portion (curved arrows), with craniocaudal diameters of 50 and 29 mm, respectively. Note semimembranosus tendon (open arrow, C) between two portions of cyst.

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Fig. 2. —Deep infrapatellar bursa in 32-year-old man with asymptomatic right knee. Sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR image (TR/TE, 3610/95) shows fluid within deep infrapatellar bursa (arrow) of asymptomatic knee. Craniocaudal diameter of bursa was 13 mm.

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Fig. 3. —Fluid-filled superficial infrapatellar bursa in 73-year-old man with asymptomatic knee. Sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR image (TR/TE, 3800/98) shows fluid-filled superficial infrapatellar bursa (arrows) located superficial to inferior patellar pole and patellar tendon. Maximal diameter of bursa was 24 mm.

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Fig. 4. —57-year-old man with fluid in gastrocnemius bursae (arrowheads) in asymptomatic knee. Sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR image (TR/TE, 3610/95) shows location of bursa: between origin of medial gastrocnemius muscle (arrow) and distal part of femur. Craniocaudal diameter of bursa was 17 mm.

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Fig. 5A. —64-year-old man with large fluid-filled anserine bursa in painless right knee. Sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR image (TR/TE, 3800/98) (A) and coronal T2-weighted MR image (4500/96) (B) obtained with fat suppression show large fluid-filled anserine bursa (arrowheads). Bursa separates pes anserine tendons (straight arrows) from medial tibial condyle (curved arrow). Craniocaudal diameter of bursa was 32 mm.

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Fig. 5B. —64-year-old man with large fluid-filled anserine bursa in painless right knee. Sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR image (TR/TE, 3800/98) (A) and coronal T2-weighted MR image (4500/96) (B) obtained with fat suppression show large fluid-filled anserine bursa (arrowheads). Bursa separates pes anserine tendons (straight arrows) from medial tibial condyle (curved arrow). Craniocaudal diameter of bursa was 32 mm.

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Fig. 6A. —23-year-old man with fluid collection adjacent to proximal tibiofibular joint in asymptomatic right knee. Sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR image (TR/TE, 3800/98) (A) and coronal (T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR image (4500/96) (B) obtained with fat suppression show fluid collection (arrowheads) adjacent to proximal tibiofibular joint (straight arrow). Fluid collection originates from proximal tibiofibular joint and extends posterior and medial to fibular head (curved arrow). Craniocaudal diameter of fluid collection was 13 mm.

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Fig. 6B. —23-year-old man with fluid collection adjacent to proximal tibiofibular joint in asymptomatic right knee. Sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR image (TR/TE, 3800/98) (A) and coronal (T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR image (4500/96) (B) obtained with fat suppression show fluid collection (arrowheads) adjacent to proximal tibiofibular joint (straight arrow). Fluid collection originates from proximal tibiofibular joint and extends posterior and medial to fibular head (curved arrow). Craniocaudal diameter of fluid collection was 13 mm.

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