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The prevalence of Baker cyst in relation to the arrangement pattern between the medial head of gastrocnemius tendon and the semimembranosus tendon

  • Musculoskeletal
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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Baker cyst (BC) was related to the specific arrangement of the medial head of gastrocnemius tendon (MHGT) and the semimembranosus tendon (SMT).

Materials and methods

Patients who underwent knee MRI with “Baker cyst” in PACS from August 2017 to February 2018 were included in this study. Patients who did not have BC in a knee MRI performed during the same period were included in the control group. A total 210 patients were selected for inclusion in this study. For the imaging analysis, the arrangement pattern between MHGT and SMT was classified into three types: type 1, concave; type 2, flat; and type 3, convex. When imaging analysis was performed, the amount of effusion, the presence of osteoarthritis, and major ligament and meniscal tears were also described. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05.

Results

The frequency of types 1, 2, and 3 was statistically significant depending on the presence or absence of BC (p < 0.001). The frequency of type 3 was the highest in the presence of BC, while that of type 1 was the highest in the absence of BC. BC was more common in type 2 (OR = 2.54; 95% CI = 1.27–5.07) and type 3 (OR = 4.09; 95% CI = 1.88–8.89).

Conclusion

BC is more likely to occur in patients with SMT having a convex shape for MHGT.

Key Points

• Based on axial image of MRI only, one can predict which patients are morphologically more prone to develop a Baker cyst.

• On axial images of MRI, Baker cyst is more likely to occur in patients with semimembranosus tendon having a convex shape for medial head of gastrocnemius tendon.

• Baker cyst is not associated with the amount of effusion, OA, or internal derangement.

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Abbreviations

BC:

Baker cyst

MHGT:

Medial head of gastrocnemius tendon

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

SI:

Signal intensity

SMT:

Semimembranosus tendon

PSM:

Propensity score matching

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea

    Dong Yoon Han, Kyung Nam Ryu & Ji Seon Park

  2. Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #892, Dongnam-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, 05278, Republic of Korea

    Wook Jin, So Young Park & Seong Jong Yun

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  1. Dong Yoon Han
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Correspondence to Kyung Nam Ryu.

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The scientific guarantor of this publication is Kyung Nam Ryu.

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No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper.

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Written informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board.

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• retrospective

• case–control study

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Han, D.Y., Ryu, K.N., Park, J.S. et al. The prevalence of Baker cyst in relation to the arrangement pattern between the medial head of gastrocnemius tendon and the semimembranosus tendon. Eur Radiol 30, 1544–1553 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-019-06472-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-019-06472-6

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