Lyme disease presenting as popliteal cyst in children

J Pediatr Orthop. 2006 Nov-Dec;26(6):725-7. doi: 10.1097/01.bpo.0000242430.91489.fd.

Abstract

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in North America. Our review of the literature found few reports of Lyme disease presented in the orthopaedic literature. However, Lyme disease presenting as a popliteal cyst, with or without rupture, is rarely reported. We present 4 cases of Lyme disease that initially presented to our pediatric orthopaedic clinic for treatment of a popliteal cyst. The early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease may help prevent the often-devastating long-term sequelae of Lyme disease. The goal of this article is to increase the awareness of Lyme disease presenting in children as a popliteal cyst.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
  • Blotting, Western
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease / complications*
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis
  • Lyme Disease / microbiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Popliteal Cyst / diagnosis
  • Popliteal Cyst / etiology*
  • Popliteal Cyst / microbiology
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial