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U-M Health SystemThis information is approved and/or reviewed by U-M Health System providers but it is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical treatment. You should speak to your physician or make an appointment to be seen if you have questions or concerns about this information or your medical condition.
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Baker's Cyst

What is a Baker's cyst?

A Baker's cyst is an abnormal swelling of a bursa (a fluid-filled sac) behind the knee.

How does it occur?

No one really knows what causes a Baker's cyst. However, a cyst can occur when the lining of the knee joint produces too much fluid after an injury or in certain kinds of arthritis. They can occur with tears of the meniscus.

What are the symptoms?

You may have pain, swelling, or a feeling of fullness in the area behind the knee.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will examine your knee and find a bulge in the back of your knee. You may need to have a magnetic resonance image (MRI) to help the healthcare provider determine if you have a Baker's cyst.

How is it treated?

The initial discomfort of a Baker's cyst may be treated by wearing an elastic bandage or a sleeve around your knee. Your provider may prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine, the cyst may be drained, or an operation may be performed to remove the cyst. Sometimes the cyst goes away on its own. If the cyst does not cause bothersome symptoms, it may not be treated. Adults aged 65 years and older should not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine for more than 7 days without their healthcare provider's approval.

How can a Baker's cyst be prevented?

There is really no way to prevent a Baker's cyst from forming.

Written by Pierre Rouzier, MD, for RelayHealth.
Published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2009-01-09
Last reviewed: 2009-01-07
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
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