Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOsteoarthritis ProgressionBone Cyst SymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Osteoarthritis Progression
Bone Cyst Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
A subchondral cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms in the bone beneath the cartilage of a joint such as the hip, knee, or shoulder. It’s also known as a bone cyst. “Subchondral” means below the cartilage.
These cysts can develop in people withosteoarthritis. This article provides an overview on subchondral bone cysts, why they appear, how they’re diagnosed, what the symptoms are, and common treatment options.
Subchondral Bone in Osteoarthritis: What’s the Connection?
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How Osteoarthritis Progresses
Osteoarthritis typically develops in the following stages:
Causes and Symptoms
Subchondral boneis the layer of bone just below the cartilage. With osteoarthritis, the blood supply to these areas increases as the body tries to repair the joint damage.
The exact way subchondral bone cysts form is unknown, but damage to the subchondral bone and overlying cartilage are key factors.
Bone Cyst SymptomsWith bone spurs and increased bone mass, the formation of subchondral bone cysts can further complicate the symptoms of osteoarthritis.Bone cysts may cause mild-to-moderate pain, affect joint flexibility, or both. They can also be asymptomatic.
With bone spurs and increased bone mass, the formation of subchondral bone cysts can further complicate the symptoms of osteoarthritis.Bone cysts may cause mild-to-moderate pain, affect joint flexibility, or both. They can also be asymptomatic.
With bone spurs and increased bone mass, the formation of subchondral bone cysts can further complicate the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Bone cysts may cause mild-to-moderate pain, affect joint flexibility, or both. They can also be asymptomatic.
Not all people with osteoarthritis will develop subchondral cysts. It’s not clear why some people develop the condition and others don’t.
Subchondral bone cysts are diagnosed with an X-ray.
They will appear as hollowed-out areas in the subchondral bone but are often poorly defined and difficult to spot. In such cases, amagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)scan may be ordered to provide the doctor with a more three-dimensional view.
The X-ray or MRI results, along with a review of the person’s symptoms and risk factors, are usually enough to confirm the diagnosis.
Risk factors for bone cysts include:
Bone cysts are not treated directly. Instead, the doctor will find ways to help alleviate the acute and long-term symptoms of the underlying osteoarthritis.
Subchondral cyst treatment options include:
If none of these options provides relief, the doctor may recommend a joint replacement surgery.
Learn More About Osteoarthritis Treatment
Frequently Asked QuestionsThey may go away or get smaller after certain surgeries (like a total knee replacement). However, large cysts might not completely go away.Somewhat. One study of over 800 people with knee osteoarthritis found that about 30% had subchondral cysts.Learn MoreWhat Is Knee Osteoarthritis?Bone cysts are not cancer, and they don’t spread to other body parts.
They may go away or get smaller after certain surgeries (like a total knee replacement). However, large cysts might not completely go away.
Somewhat. One study of over 800 people with knee osteoarthritis found that about 30% had subchondral cysts.Learn MoreWhat Is Knee Osteoarthritis?
Somewhat. One study of over 800 people with knee osteoarthritis found that about 30% had subchondral cysts.
Learn MoreWhat Is Knee Osteoarthritis?
Bone cysts are not cancer, and they don’t spread to other body parts.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Man GS, Mologhianu G.Osteoarthritis pathogenesis - a complex process that involves the entire joint.J Med Life. 2014;7(1):37–41.Loeser RF, Goldring SR, Scanzello CR, Goldring MB.Osteoarthritis: a disease of the joint as an organ.Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(6):1697–1707. doi:10.1002/art.34453Li G, Yin J, Gao J, et al.Subchondral bone in osteoarthritis: insight into risk factors and microstructural changes.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15(6):223. doi:10.1186/ar4405Stewart HL, Kawcak CE.The Importance of Subchondral Bone in the Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis.Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:178. doi:10.3389/fvets.2018.00178Crema MD, Roemer FW, Marra MD, et al.Contrast-enhanced MRI of subchondral cysts in patients with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis: the MOST study.Eur J Radiol. 2010;75(1):e92–e96. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.08.009Tellegen AR, Rudnik-Jansen I, Pouran B, et al.Controlled release of celecoxib inhibits inflammation, bone cysts and osteophyte formation in a preclinical model of osteoarthritis.Drug Deliv. 2018;25(1):1438–1447. doi:10.1080/10717544.2018.1482971Tanamas SK, Wluka AE, Pelletier JP, et al.The association between subchondral bone cysts and tibial cartilage volume and risk of joint replacement in people with knee osteoarthritis: a longitudinal study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(2):R58.Lenz CG, Zingg PO, Dora C.Do osteoarthritic subchondral bone cysts spontaneously consolidate after total hip replacement?.Hip Int. 2019;29(4):398-404. doi:10.1177/1120700018787108Audrey HX, Abd Razak HR, Andrew TH.The truth behind subchondral cysts in osteoarthritis of the knee.Open Orthop J. 2014;8:7–10. doi:10.2174/1874325001408010007NHS.Bone cyst.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Man GS, Mologhianu G.Osteoarthritis pathogenesis - a complex process that involves the entire joint.J Med Life. 2014;7(1):37–41.Loeser RF, Goldring SR, Scanzello CR, Goldring MB.Osteoarthritis: a disease of the joint as an organ.Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(6):1697–1707. doi:10.1002/art.34453Li G, Yin J, Gao J, et al.Subchondral bone in osteoarthritis: insight into risk factors and microstructural changes.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15(6):223. doi:10.1186/ar4405Stewart HL, Kawcak CE.The Importance of Subchondral Bone in the Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis.Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:178. doi:10.3389/fvets.2018.00178Crema MD, Roemer FW, Marra MD, et al.Contrast-enhanced MRI of subchondral cysts in patients with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis: the MOST study.Eur J Radiol. 2010;75(1):e92–e96. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.08.009Tellegen AR, Rudnik-Jansen I, Pouran B, et al.Controlled release of celecoxib inhibits inflammation, bone cysts and osteophyte formation in a preclinical model of osteoarthritis.Drug Deliv. 2018;25(1):1438–1447. doi:10.1080/10717544.2018.1482971Tanamas SK, Wluka AE, Pelletier JP, et al.The association between subchondral bone cysts and tibial cartilage volume and risk of joint replacement in people with knee osteoarthritis: a longitudinal study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(2):R58.Lenz CG, Zingg PO, Dora C.Do osteoarthritic subchondral bone cysts spontaneously consolidate after total hip replacement?.Hip Int. 2019;29(4):398-404. doi:10.1177/1120700018787108Audrey HX, Abd Razak HR, Andrew TH.The truth behind subchondral cysts in osteoarthritis of the knee.Open Orthop J. 2014;8:7–10. doi:10.2174/1874325001408010007NHS.Bone cyst.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Man GS, Mologhianu G.Osteoarthritis pathogenesis - a complex process that involves the entire joint.J Med Life. 2014;7(1):37–41.Loeser RF, Goldring SR, Scanzello CR, Goldring MB.Osteoarthritis: a disease of the joint as an organ.Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(6):1697–1707. doi:10.1002/art.34453Li G, Yin J, Gao J, et al.Subchondral bone in osteoarthritis: insight into risk factors and microstructural changes.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15(6):223. doi:10.1186/ar4405Stewart HL, Kawcak CE.The Importance of Subchondral Bone in the Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis.Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:178. doi:10.3389/fvets.2018.00178Crema MD, Roemer FW, Marra MD, et al.Contrast-enhanced MRI of subchondral cysts in patients with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis: the MOST study.Eur J Radiol. 2010;75(1):e92–e96. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.08.009Tellegen AR, Rudnik-Jansen I, Pouran B, et al.Controlled release of celecoxib inhibits inflammation, bone cysts and osteophyte formation in a preclinical model of osteoarthritis.Drug Deliv. 2018;25(1):1438–1447. doi:10.1080/10717544.2018.1482971Tanamas SK, Wluka AE, Pelletier JP, et al.The association between subchondral bone cysts and tibial cartilage volume and risk of joint replacement in people with knee osteoarthritis: a longitudinal study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(2):R58.Lenz CG, Zingg PO, Dora C.Do osteoarthritic subchondral bone cysts spontaneously consolidate after total hip replacement?.Hip Int. 2019;29(4):398-404. doi:10.1177/1120700018787108Audrey HX, Abd Razak HR, Andrew TH.The truth behind subchondral cysts in osteoarthritis of the knee.Open Orthop J. 2014;8:7–10. doi:10.2174/1874325001408010007NHS.Bone cyst.
Man GS, Mologhianu G.Osteoarthritis pathogenesis - a complex process that involves the entire joint.J Med Life. 2014;7(1):37–41.
Loeser RF, Goldring SR, Scanzello CR, Goldring MB.Osteoarthritis: a disease of the joint as an organ.Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(6):1697–1707. doi:10.1002/art.34453
Li G, Yin J, Gao J, et al.Subchondral bone in osteoarthritis: insight into risk factors and microstructural changes.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15(6):223. doi:10.1186/ar4405
Stewart HL, Kawcak CE.The Importance of Subchondral Bone in the Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis.Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:178. doi:10.3389/fvets.2018.00178
Crema MD, Roemer FW, Marra MD, et al.Contrast-enhanced MRI of subchondral cysts in patients with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis: the MOST study.Eur J Radiol. 2010;75(1):e92–e96. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.08.009
Tellegen AR, Rudnik-Jansen I, Pouran B, et al.Controlled release of celecoxib inhibits inflammation, bone cysts and osteophyte formation in a preclinical model of osteoarthritis.Drug Deliv. 2018;25(1):1438–1447. doi:10.1080/10717544.2018.1482971
Tanamas SK, Wluka AE, Pelletier JP, et al.The association between subchondral bone cysts and tibial cartilage volume and risk of joint replacement in people with knee osteoarthritis: a longitudinal study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(2):R58.
Lenz CG, Zingg PO, Dora C.Do osteoarthritic subchondral bone cysts spontaneously consolidate after total hip replacement?.Hip Int. 2019;29(4):398-404. doi:10.1177/1120700018787108
Audrey HX, Abd Razak HR, Andrew TH.The truth behind subchondral cysts in osteoarthritis of the knee.Open Orthop J. 2014;8:7–10. doi:10.2174/1874325001408010007
NHS.Bone cyst.
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