Presentation
Acute onset left leg swelling. Referred to exclude DVT.
Patient Data
All deep veins of the left leg are patent and compressible. There is a ruptured Baker cyst with fluid extending into the calf with a maximal dimension of the remaining cyst of 26 mm.
MRI knee: 1 wk prior for investigation of knee pain
There is a small amount of fluid within the medial gastrocnemius/semimembranosus bursa and this is tracking superficially over the medial gastrocnemius muscle suggesting a recently ruptured Baker cyst. Correlates with ultrasound findings.
Subchondral edema within the medial tibial plateau with suspected small 7 x 11 mm subchondral fracture extending parallel the articular surface.
Case Discussion
Ruptured Baker cysts are a common cause of acute unilateral leg swelling and are often found on investigation for DVT. When reviewing the DVT ultrasound one should always consider this as a differential diagnosis.
Acknowledgements: Dr Hansel Addae-Bosomprah.