[Echographic study of the popliteal region]

The paper reports an echographic study of the popliteal region designed to assess the utility of ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of the various popliteal pathologies. In a year, 459 soft tissue samples were examined; 250 concerned the knee 138 patients gave negative results, while 112 cases presented this pathology with the following diagnosis: 94 cysts (21 appeared duplicated and monolateral, 28 duplicated and counterlateral), 2 aneurysms, 3 hematomas, 10 solid tumefactions (9 were benign, 1 malignant), 1 venous thrombosis and 2 chondromatosis. Of these 112 cases, 25 had been operated on, and the surgical reports quoted 15 cysts, 9 benign and 1 malignant neoplasm. The results of the study, when compared with the existing literature, highlight the essential role of ultrasound in the diagnostic approach to the pathology of the popliteal region.