354: Is a Baker's Cyst on Lower Extremity Ultrasonography a Risk Factor for Concomitant Deep Venous Thrombosis?

Abstract

It has been suggested that Baker's cyst is a risk factor for deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Baker's cyst and DVT may occasionally co-exist. Our primary objective is to determine the incidence of DVT in the presence of Baker's cyst. This was a retrospective chart review. All patients who had a lower extremity ultrasonography performed were included in the study. This study was performed at an urban hospital with >120,000 annual visits in the emergency department (ED). We reviewed the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and identified patients who had lower extremity ultrasonography. The index ultrasonography was used for any patient who had multiple visits to the hospital. We stratified patients with DVT as diagnosed by lower extremity duplex sonography by the presence or absence of a Baker's cyst. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used for categorical data for statistical analysis. We identified 1068 patients who had a lower extremity ultrasonography from July 2005 to January 2009. Median age of all patients was 71 years (IQR 54-82 years). 56% were female and 52% were White. Baker's cyst was present in 329 patients [30.9% (95%CI 28.1-33.6%)] and DVT was present in 423 patients [39.6% (95%CI 36.7-42.5%)]. Twenty out of 329 patients with Baker's cyst also had a DVT [6.1% (95%CI 3.5-8.7%)]. DVT was present in 402 of the 739 patients in the absence of a Baker's cyst [54.6%(95%CI 50.9-58.1%)] (p<0.001). Patients with a Baker's cyst diagnosed on ultrasonography were less likely to have a simultaneously diagnosed deep venous thrombosis in this cohort of adult patients who had a lower extremity ultrasonography performed.