Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
A meniscal cyst is a collection of joint fluid (also calledsynovialfluid) that forms when there is atear within the meniscus cartilage, usually due to a knee injury.
While meniscal cysts are not serious, they can cause knee pain and swelling or problems moving the knee.
This article looks at meniscal cysts and their symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Verywell / Tim Liedtke
Symptoms of a Meniscal Cyst
Meniscus cysts do not always cause symptoms. When they do, they may include:
What Causes a Meniscal Cyst?
A meniscus cyst is not a true cyst. Instead, it is made up of displaced joint fluid. When fluid escapes the joint, it can collect in a pouch. This pouch is the cyst.
Once the meniscus cartilage (the joint pad in the knee) is torn, fluid can escape the joint into the cyst, but it can’t go back into the joint. Because of this, the cyst will continue to collect fluid.
Risk factors for meniscal cysts include:
Meniscal cysts are most common in 20- to 30-year-old males. They are usually associated with a type ofmeniscal tearcalled a horizontal cleavage tear.
Meniscus Tears: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Diagnosis of Meniscal Cysts
To diagnose a meniscal cyst, a healthcare provider will ask you questions about:
This will help determine if you have a meniscal tear. A meniscal cyst can usually be felt when the area ispalpated(touched).
There are a number of motion, weight-bearing, and pressure tests that can help healthcare providers assess and identify a tear and decide if surgery is necessary. These tests include:
Meniscal Cysts vs. Baker’s Cysts
Meniscal cysts are similar topoplitealor Baker’s cysts. Baker’s cysts, however, are located in the back of the knee joint.
Baker’s cysts are seen with many types of knee joint problems that lead to fluid accumulation. They can occur with meniscus tears, but also with arthritis, ligament injuries, and other problems that causeknee swelling.
Treatment of Meniscal Cysts
The cyst may be drained with a needle in a health provider’s office. However, the cyst will usually return unless the meniscal tear itself is treated or heals itself.
Surgery
Meniscal tears don’t always need surgery. When they do, the most common surgery is a minimally invasivearthroscopicsurgical approach.This is where a surgeon uses instruments passed through small incisions to operate on the joint.
Once the tear has been repaired, the cyst will usually go away permanently. While it is possible for the cyst to come back, it is unlikely.
Physical Therapy for a Meniscus Tear
Summary
Meniscal cysts don’t always cause symptoms. When they do, they may cause pain, a bump on the knee, and swelling or locking of the joint.
Meniscal cysts can be drained, but they may return. Surgical treatment of the tear itself is the only way to permanently treat a cyst and keep it from returning.
5 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.Chen H.Diagnosis and treatment of a lateral meniscal cyst with musculoskeletal ultrasound.Case Rep Orthop. 2015;2015:432187. doi:10.1155/2015/432187Crowell MS, Westrick RB, Fogarty BT.Cysts of the lateral meniscus.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2013;8(3):340-348.Ercin E, Kaya I, Sungur I, Demirbas E, Ugras AA, Cetinus EM.History, clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging, and arthroscopic correlation in meniscal lesions.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2012;20(5):851-856. doi:10.1007/s00167-011-1636-4Demange MK.Baker’s cyst.Rev Bras Ortop. 2015;46(6):630-633. doi:10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30317-7Cowden III CH, Barber FA.Meniscal cysts: treatment options and algorithm.J Knee Surg. 2014;27(02):105-12. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1353995Additional ReadingGupta Y, Mahara D, Lamichhane A.McMurray’s test and joint line tenderness for medial meniscus tear: Are they accurate?Ethiop J Health Sci. 2016;26(6):567–572. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i6.10Washington Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.Meniscal cyst. 2019.
5 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.Chen H.Diagnosis and treatment of a lateral meniscal cyst with musculoskeletal ultrasound.Case Rep Orthop. 2015;2015:432187. doi:10.1155/2015/432187Crowell MS, Westrick RB, Fogarty BT.Cysts of the lateral meniscus.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2013;8(3):340-348.Ercin E, Kaya I, Sungur I, Demirbas E, Ugras AA, Cetinus EM.History, clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging, and arthroscopic correlation in meniscal lesions.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2012;20(5):851-856. doi:10.1007/s00167-011-1636-4Demange MK.Baker’s cyst.Rev Bras Ortop. 2015;46(6):630-633. doi:10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30317-7Cowden III CH, Barber FA.Meniscal cysts: treatment options and algorithm.J Knee Surg. 2014;27(02):105-12. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1353995Additional ReadingGupta Y, Mahara D, Lamichhane A.McMurray’s test and joint line tenderness for medial meniscus tear: Are they accurate?Ethiop J Health Sci. 2016;26(6):567–572. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i6.10Washington Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.Meniscal cyst. 2019.
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.
Chen H.Diagnosis and treatment of a lateral meniscal cyst with musculoskeletal ultrasound.Case Rep Orthop. 2015;2015:432187. doi:10.1155/2015/432187Crowell MS, Westrick RB, Fogarty BT.Cysts of the lateral meniscus.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2013;8(3):340-348.Ercin E, Kaya I, Sungur I, Demirbas E, Ugras AA, Cetinus EM.History, clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging, and arthroscopic correlation in meniscal lesions.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2012;20(5):851-856. doi:10.1007/s00167-011-1636-4Demange MK.Baker’s cyst.Rev Bras Ortop. 2015;46(6):630-633. doi:10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30317-7Cowden III CH, Barber FA.Meniscal cysts: treatment options and algorithm.J Knee Surg. 2014;27(02):105-12. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1353995
Chen H.Diagnosis and treatment of a lateral meniscal cyst with musculoskeletal ultrasound.Case Rep Orthop. 2015;2015:432187. doi:10.1155/2015/432187
Crowell MS, Westrick RB, Fogarty BT.Cysts of the lateral meniscus.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2013;8(3):340-348.
Ercin E, Kaya I, Sungur I, Demirbas E, Ugras AA, Cetinus EM.History, clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging, and arthroscopic correlation in meniscal lesions.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2012;20(5):851-856. doi:10.1007/s00167-011-1636-4
Demange MK.Baker’s cyst.Rev Bras Ortop. 2015;46(6):630-633. doi:10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30317-7
Cowden III CH, Barber FA.Meniscal cysts: treatment options and algorithm.J Knee Surg. 2014;27(02):105-12. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1353995
Gupta Y, Mahara D, Lamichhane A.McMurray’s test and joint line tenderness for medial meniscus tear: Are they accurate?Ethiop J Health Sci. 2016;26(6):567–572. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i6.10Washington Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.Meniscal cyst. 2019.
Gupta Y, Mahara D, Lamichhane A.McMurray’s test and joint line tenderness for medial meniscus tear: Are they accurate?Ethiop J Health Sci. 2016;26(6):567–572. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i6.10
Washington Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.Meniscal cyst. 2019.
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