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Calcified loose bodies in a Baker cyst

Case contributed by Craig Hacking
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Day 1 post op knee replacement for advanced osteoarthritis.

Patient Data

Age: 70 years
Gender: Male

Knee joint effusion and gas and subcutaneous gas in keeping with recent total knee replacement. The femoral and tibial components are well aligned. Patellar resurfacing noted.

Large well defined corticated densities posterior to the knee joint on the lateral projection - DDX of calcified muscular hematoma, calcified loose bodies in a Baker cyst or calcified lymph nodes.

Pre op CT

ct

Advanced osteoarthritis. Moderate joint effusion. Fluid surrounding the popliteus tendon.

Large complex Baker cyst, with calcificed loose bodies within it.

Case Discussion

Calcified loose bodies can uncommonly be found in a Baker cyst, either arising from the knee joint and moving into the cyst (with causes including trauma, destructive arthropathy or synovial osteochondromatosis) or may arise within the cyst itself by chondrometaplasia.

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