Epidemiology

The prevalence of popliteal cyst varies depending on the population studied and the imaging technique used for diagnosis.

In a series of 400 magnetic resonance imaging reports from patients who were referred with knee problems, 77 (19%) were found to have popliteal cysts.[2] In patients examined for underlying deep vein thrombosis with duplex ultrasound, the presence of popliteal cyst is lower: about 3% to 4%.[3][4]​​ Patients with a history of joint pathology (arthritis or joint trauma) have a 15% to 40% prevalence of popliteal cysts.[5][6][7]​ One ultrasonographic study which investigated the prevalence of popliteal cysts in patients with knee pain identified the pathology in 102 (25.8%) patients; a positive association with features of osteoarthritis and joint effusion was also noted.[8]

There has been no reported sex preference in the prevalence of cysts, but development of cysts increases with age (26% in patients ages 31 to 50 years, and 53% in patients ages 51 to 90 years).[9] Two age-incidence peaks have been identified: 4 to 7 years and 35 to 70 years.[9] The underlying etiology by which the cysts develop in the two groups is different. Trauma or coexisting joint disease is common in the older group and almost absent in the younger group. In the younger group, naturally occurring bursae filled with synovial fluid may be responsible for the development of the cyst.

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