Knee Cysts and Pseudocysts: An Illustrated Review of the Different MRI Aspects

The discovery of an intra- or periarticular cystic image is a frequent occurrence when performing MRI of the knee. Although the majority of these lesions are benign, cystic lesions can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis. It is important for the radiologist to be familiar with these entities, their specific anatomical locations and potential pitfalls, to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate interventions. MRI is the modality of choice for localizing and characterizing cystic lesions around the knee. The purpose of this work is to present an illustrated review of cystic and pseudocystic lesions of the knee and their characteristics on MRI.