Baker's Cyst and Venoscintigraphy

Abstract

To the Editor.— Ruptured Baker's cyst (240:1517,1978; 241:564,1979) is a difficult clinical problem, in that (1) it is so seldom suspected; (2) it is usually wrongly diagnosed as thrombophlebitis; and (3) therapy for these two entities is divergent. We have previously reported an extended series1on this problem in the Finnish literature. Our material consists of 27 patients, in whom the diagnosis of Baker's cyst or its rupture has been confirmed. All of the patients were referred to the internal medicine clinic for symptoms of calf pain. In only four cases was the referring diagnosis Baker's cyst; the others were diagnosed as deep venous thrombosis. Fifteen of these 27 Baker's cysts were ruptured. Four patients had deep venous thrombosis in addition to the Baker's cyst. The diagnosis was based on the clinical picture, Baker's cystography, and phlebography in all cases. Venoscintigraphy was performed on four of the patients, with