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Clinical features

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

In children it is an incidental finding and usually parents note the painless mass in the popliteal area (1). Adults may complain of a swelling, a mass, pain, or stiffness which worsen by activity (2). In a study which observed 82 patients with surgically treated cysts

  • a mass was the main concern in 68 patients
  • local aching was seen in 46 patients
  • stiffness was present in 13 patients
  • swelling was present in 9 patients (2)

The swelling seen in popliteal cyst

  • is present at the medial aspect of the popliteal area
  • is round, smooth, fluctuant, trans-illuminates and is often tender
  • increases in tension on extension of the knee and soften or disappear when the knee is flexed to 45 degrees - (Foucher's sign) (2)

Reference:

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