Comparison of intraarticular changes detected by MRI in patients with and without Baker's cyst

Introduction. Baker's cysts are visualized on MR-tomograms in the popliteal region as cavities filled with fluid. They are found in 10-41% of MRI studies performed in patients with pain in the knee region. In adults without joint symptoms, popliteal cysts are detected in 4.7% - 37% of cases. 3 In children, the prevalence of popliteal cysts is 6.3%. The purpose of this work was to assess the prevalence of pathological changes in bone and soft tissues of the knee joints in patients with Baker's cyst and to compare the frequencies of similar changes in patients with and without cysts. Methods. Patients aged 20-68 years with Baker's cyst, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were included in the study. The degree of osteoarthritis was determined with the Kellgren-Lawrence scale (K-L) by a radiologist not familiar with the purpose of the work. He also assessed the degree of chondral defect, osteophytosis, meniscus and ligament injuries, bone marrow edema and subchondral cysts detected by MRI. The control group included patients without Baker's cysts. Results. In the main group, the following changes were observed: 83.4% of patients had joint transformations, 85% - synovities; osteophytes were visualized in 67% of cases, subchondral cysts were found in 16% of cases, bone marrow edema was detected at all stages of osteoarthritis, and the severity of this symptom was moderate. In the control group, 100% of the subjects had no signs of synovitis, 66% had no X-ray signs of osteoarthritis; osteophytes were visualized in 27.3% of cases, subchondral cysts were found in 13.6% of patients, and no one marrow edema was detected. Among patients without Baker's cyst, meniscus lesions were more frequent than among subjects in the main group. The posterior horn of the medial meniscus was damaged in the same number of patients in both groups (89% and 84%, respectively). Conclusion. Formation of Baker's cyst can occur not only because of degenerative changes in joint tissues, but also in connection with the mandatory inflammatory component, and meniscus lesions are not essential for the occurrence and progression of the cyst of the popliteal region.