Acute Lower Extremity Pain in an Adult Patient Secondary to Bilateral Popliteal Cysts

Stephen A Shiver, Michael Blaivas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lower leg and calf pain is a common presenting complaint in the Emergency Department and may involve a variety of etiologies, including musculoskeletal and vascular pathology such as deep venous thrombosis. Baker's cysts are a periodic finding in patients suspected of having deep venous thrombosis. As more emergency physicians perform their own lower extremity ultrasound examinations, they encounter Baker's cysts as the cause of unilateral leg pain or swelling. Bilateral Baker's cysts are very rare and may present a diagnostic challenge in the Emergency Department if bedside ultrasound is not available. We present a case of bilateral Baker's cysts in a young dancer who presented complaining of bilateral lower extremity pain and upper calf swelling. The bilateral cysts were diagnosed on bedside ultrasound by the treating emergency physician and a disposition quickly made.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)315-318
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Emergency Medicine
Volume34
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2008

Keywords

  • Baker's cyst
  • bilateral Baker's cysts
  • emergency ultrasound
  • knee pain
  • musculoskeletal ultrasound
  • ultrasound

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Emergency Medicine

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