Diagnosis and treatment of a lateral meniscal cyst with musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Hamilton Chen

doi:10.1155/2015/432187

Abstract

Meniscal cysts are a relatively uncommon occurrence that may result in pain and disability in the knee. It is widely believed that meniscal cysts are secondary to fluid extrusion from a meniscus tear. Typically, diagnosis of a meniscal cyst typically requires magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to delineate the cyst and any associated injuries. With improvements in sonographic technology, ultrasound has emerged as a sensitive modality for detection of meniscal cysts. We present a patient with a contraindication to MRI who was diagnosed with a lateral meniscal cyst by musculoskeletal ultrasound and treated with an ultrasound-guided lateral meniscal cyst aspiration and injection.

Highlights

Meniscal cysts are a relatively uncommon occurrence that may result in pain and disability in the knee
We present a patient with a contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who was diagnosed with a meniscal cyst with musculoskeletal ultrasound and subsequently treated with an ultrasound-guided aspiration and injection of steroids
Cysts are believed to have developed from extrusion of synovial fluid through a meniscus tear [7, 9]

Summary

Hamilton Chen

Meniscal cysts are a relatively uncommon occurrence that may result in pain and disability in the knee. It is widely believed that meniscal cysts are secondary to fluid extrusion from a meniscus tear. Diagnosis of a meniscal cyst typically requires magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to delineate the cyst and any associated injuries. With improvements in sonographic technology, ultrasound has emerged as a sensitive modality for detection of meniscal cysts. We present a patient with a contraindication to MRI who was diagnosed with a lateral meniscal cyst by musculoskeletal ultrasound and treated with an ultrasound-guided lateral meniscal cyst aspiration and injection

Introduction

Discussion