Can ultrasonography-guided aspiration and steroid injection treat reflux venous blood flow around symptomatic Baker's cysts? Our short-term experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of ultrasonography-guided aspiration treatment with concomitant steroid injection on relieving reflux blood flow in veins located next to symptomatic Baker's cyst.

METHODS: All patients were examined by ultrasonography at administration and 1 month follow-up after intervention. Puncture and aspiration of the cyst, as well as injection of 1 ml dexamethasone were performed by the same radiologist. Compression on popliteal vein and vena saphena parva and the degrees of reflux before and after treatment were recorded.

RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included in the study. An overall reduction of the cyst's size was observed in all patients of the study group. Reduction of the cyst size is more evident during the 1st week, which was observed by a slight enlargement during the 1st and the 3rd months controls.

CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography-guided puncture, aspiration and steroid injection seems to yield promising outcomes in terms of relieving venous reflux flow around simple Baker's cysts.