Why can't this be a popliteal (Baker's) cyst?
1. It has no anatomic relation to the gastrocnemius semimembranosus bursa. 2. It contains blood degradation products of different age arranged in layers, suggestive of a precipitation thrombus. 3. It is continuous with the popliteal vascular bundle.
Which other imaging studies could have led to the right diagnosis?
1. Colour-coded Doppler ultrasound. 2. CT angiography. 3. MR angiography.
Which complications may arise from this condition?
Peripheral arterial embolism. Life-threatening haemorrhage. Pressure-related nerve damage. Venous-thrombosis of the lower leg due to outflow obstruction.
What would be the preferred treatment of a lesion of this size?
Bypass surgery in combination with ligation of the aneurysmatic vessel, and probably decompression.
Large oval, sharply delineated, popliteal mass in continuation with the popliteal artery. Hyperintense signal on T1. Hypo-, iso-, and hyperintense signals with concentric layering on T2. Compression of the popliteal vein.