Imaging of meniscal cyst of the knee in three cases

Three cases of solitary meniscal cyst in the knee have recently been diagnosed in our departments using ultrasound and nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI). Two cysts involved the lateral and one the medial meniscus. The appearance of these lesions on ultrasound and MR images is shown. All three cysts had low intensity on T1-weighted images and high intensity on T2-weighted images and clearly communicated with a large horizontal tear in the meniscus. Ultrasonography showed a relatively hypoechoic lesion and, in the two cases of lateral meniscal cyst, focal areas of relatively increased echoes which are probably due to meniscal debris. Ultrasound showed the abnormal meniscus in both of these cases. MRI is the best way of showing the cyst and an accompanying meniscal tear but, where MRI is not available, ultrasound may be an easy and inexpensive way of making a diagnosis whether or not it is used in conjunction with positive contrast arthrography.