Musculoskeletal imaging: Baker cyst: practice question

A Radiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Radiology · Musculoskeletal imaging: Baker cyst

Sample item

A patient with knee osteoarthritis develops calf swelling and tenderness that mimic a deep vein thrombosis. Ultrasound shows a fluid collection between the medial head of gastrocnemius and the semimembranosus tendon, communicating with the knee joint. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Popliteal (Baker) cyst

A Baker cyst is a distension of the gastrocnemius-semimembranosus bursa that communicates with the joint and is associated with effusion from osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis. A ruptured cyst can mimic deep vein thrombosis.

Option by option

  • A. Popliteal (Baker) cyst (correct)

    Correct. A fluid collection in the gastrocnemius-semimembranosus bursa communicating with the knee is a Baker cyst.

  • B. Popliteal artery aneurysm

    A popliteal artery aneurysm is a pulsatile, vascular structure with flow on Doppler.

  • C. Parameniscal cyst

    A parameniscal cyst lies adjacent to the meniscal margin and does not track into the calf bursa.

  • D. Deep vein thrombosis of the popliteal vein

    Deep vein thrombosis shows a non-compressible vein with echogenic thrombus, not a bursal fluid collection.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, Popliteal (Baker) cyst. A Baker cyst is a distension of the gastrocnemius-semimembranosus bursa that communicates with the joint and is associated with effusion from osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis.

Why is "Popliteal artery aneurysm" not the answer?

A popliteal artery aneurysm is a pulsatile, vascular structure with flow on Doppler.

Why is "Parameniscal cyst" not the answer?

A parameniscal cyst lies adjacent to the meniscal margin and does not track into the calf bursa.

Why is "Deep vein thrombosis of the popliteal vein" not the answer?

Deep vein thrombosis shows a non-compressible vein with echogenic thrombus, not a bursal fluid collection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Musculoskeletal imaging: Baker cyst in Radiology. A ruptured cyst can mimic deep vein thrombosis.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Musculoskeletal imaging: Baker cyst?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.