A rare presentation of ganglion cyst of the elbow

Abstract

Introduction: Ganglion cysts are benign soft tissue swellings commonly found in the wrist. The presence of these cysts in the elbow is uncommon, and few case reports have been reported for this condition at this location. These lesions can compress on the neighbouring structures or cause restriction of the joint movement. The awareness of this entity is a must, to arrive at an early diagnosis. Materials and Method: We report a patient with swelling in the anterolateral aspect of the elbow which had been causing intermittent pain for the last 13 months. The MRI revealed a multilobulated complex cystic lesion along ulnar aspect of distal arm. Results: The lesion was excised in toto, using anterolateral approach for the elbow, and sent for histopathological examination which confirmed the diagnosis of a ganglion cyst. Conclusion: Thus, due to the infrequent presentation, an awareness of this condition is necessary to prevent a delay in diagnosis and its subsequent management.

Neoplastic Elbow Diseases and Mimickers

“…A ganglion is a benign soft tissue swelling that can be found in any joint of the body but is most commonly seen around the wrist, accounting for 60 to 70% of all ganglions. 44 They usually communicate with the joint capsule or the tendon sheath, which may or may not be apparent on imaging. The elbow is a rare site for a ganglion cyst, with few cases in the literature.…”