[Soft tissue tumours on the back of the knee]

Soft tissue tumours behind the knee have rarely been described in literature. We have studied 74 patients with 79 tumours and pseudotumours in this area, and made a survey about pathology, clinical features, diagnosis, differentialdiagnosis and operative treatment. We have pointed out the varying nomenclature and confusion in definition ob a bursa and Baker's synovial herniation. The analysis of the casuistry showed predominantly gangliae, bursae and Baker's cysts. We have given special prominence to subfascial lipoma, malignant synovioma and nerve tumours as rare conditiones. Our own cases of synovioma and nerve tumours have been separately described.

Synovial cyst of spinal facet. Case report

✓The authors report a case in which a true synovial cyst was found attached to a cervical facet joint. The differential diagnosis involving herniated cervical disc as well as other types of extradural cyst is discussed. The anatomically oriented term “juxta-facet cyst” is proposed to include both ganglion and synovial cysts seen in this area.

Posttraumatic lumbar epidural true synovial cyst. Case report

✓ A case is reported of posttraumatic epidural true synovial cyst causing cauda equina compression. Surgical therapy resulted in satisfactory recovery.

The aetiology of cystic arterial disease

Two cases of cystic arterial disease of the popliteal artery are described in which a communication with the capsule of the knee-joint was demonstrated. The importance of this finding in the aetiology of the condition is discussed.

Lumbar intraspinal extradural ganglion cyst

A case is presented of an intraspinal extradural ganglion cyst at the L4-5 level. The clinical picture suggested a herniated nucleus pulposus at this level. A myelogram revealed a round lesion almost completely obstructing the flow of Pantopaque at the L4-5 level. A ganglion cyst with a haemorrhage into it and the surrounding tissue was removed, and surgery was followed by complete recovery.

Multifunctional mesenchymal cells resembling smooth muscle cells in ganglia of the wrist

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