Anterior cruciate ligament cysts: About a rare condition

The purpose of this study was to provide information on cysts of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee. This included an anatomical and radio-anatomical reminder of the cruciate ligaments of the knee, along with details of the epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, anatomical risk factors, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment of ACL cysts. A retrospective analysis was conducted, involving the review of 7 radioclinical records from the medical imaging department of Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat, covering a period of 3 years (2018-2020), during which 7 cases of ACL cysts were diagnosed. The results revealed that ACL cysts are a rare condition, frequently detected incidentally during the assessment of meniscal lesions. Symptoms commonly include knee pain and limited mobility, and MRI is considered the diagnostic modality of for distinguishing between simple fluid-filled cysts and infiltrative cysts, as well as for ruling out other differential diagnoses. Treatment options include radio-guided infiltration puncture and arthroscopic resection.