A fluid-filled mass that is a distention of a preexisting bursa in the popliteal fossa, most commonly the gastrocnemio-semimembranosus bursa. This bursa is unique in that it communicates with the knee joint, unlike other periarticular bursae, via an opening in the joint capsule posterior to the medial femoral condyle.
Comment:
Popliteal synovial cysts, also known as Baker's cysts, are commonly found in association with intraarticular knee disorders, such as osteoarthritis and meniscus tears. Histologically, the cyst walls resemble synovial tissue with fibrosis, and chronic nonspecific inflammation may be present. Osteocartilaginous loose bodies may also be found within the cyst, even if they are not seen in the knee joint. Baker cysts can be a source of posterior knee pain that persists despite surgical treatment of the intraarticular lesion, and they are routinely discovered on magnetic resonance imaging scans of the symptomatic knee. Symptoms related to a popliteal cyst origin are infrequent and may be related to size.