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What Causes Lump Below Knee?

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Posted on Tue, 30 Sep 2014
Question: my husband do x ray and had a lump as big as golf ball (about 7 cm )behind his knee. it is located lower a bit his knee. the lump is attached to his main nerve. this lump is no pain and the leg is also not swelling.
just that his foot will feel numbness especially when driving long distance.
doctor advise him to do operation but he is not willing since the lump cause nothing except numbness to his foot. my husband will like to wait and see for a few months instead of immediately do operation.
My question is 1) is this lump will cause harmful in long term?
2) will it change to cancer?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Monish De (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
MRI of knee joint

Detailed Answer:
HI

There can be many causes for lump. I suggest your husband does MRI of knee joint to determine the nature of the lump.

It seems to be Baker's cyst. A Baker's cyst is a fluid-filled cyst that causes a bulge and a feeling of tightness behind your knee. The pain can get worse when you fully flex or extend your knee or when you're active. The lump if it is a Baker's cyst may sometimes bursts and synovial fluid leaks into the calf region, causing sharp pain in your knee.

Sometimes a Baker’s cyst needs to be drained. A needle is inserted through the skin into the cyst. Fluid is sucked out with a syringe. A clinician may inject cortisone into the knee joint at the same time to quell inflammation. In rare instances, the cyst keeps forming again and causing symptoms. In such an unusual case, the cyst may have to be surgically removed.

Chances of it changing to cancer are extremely rare.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Monish De (1 hour later)
my husband did MRI, doctor advised him immediately do operation but my
question is, since the lump cause no pain and swelling, can my husband wait and see for about 2 months to see if the lump can go away by itself?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Monish De (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Observation for 2 months

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Since the lump is causing no pain and swelling no treatment is required at this moment and your husband can wait and see for about 2 months to see if the cyst will disappear on its own.

A Baker's cyst may go away on its own.

I will advise your husband to rest his knee as much as he can.

He can use a cane, crutch, walker, or another device to rest his knee.

He can also wear an elastic bandage around his knee and maintain a healthy weight.Being overweight will put extra strain on his knee.

If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.

Regards

DR De

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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Answered by
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Dr. Monish De

Oncologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2229 Questions

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What Causes Lump Below Knee?

Brief Answer: MRI of knee joint Detailed Answer: HI There can be many causes for lump. I suggest your husband does MRI of knee joint to determine the nature of the lump. It seems to be Baker's cyst. A Baker's cyst is a fluid-filled cyst that causes a bulge and a feeling of tightness behind your knee. The pain can get worse when you fully flex or extend your knee or when you're active. The lump if it is a Baker's cyst may sometimes bursts and synovial fluid leaks into the calf region, causing sharp pain in your knee. Sometimes a Baker’s cyst needs to be drained. A needle is inserted through the skin into the cyst. Fluid is sucked out with a syringe. A clinician may inject cortisone into the knee joint at the same time to quell inflammation. In rare instances, the cyst keeps forming again and causing symptoms. In such an unusual case, the cyst may have to be surgically removed. Chances of it changing to cancer are extremely rare.