Intraosseus ganglia of the wrist

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of intraosseous ganglion cysts in patients with unexplained wrist pain and evaluate the radiographic methods used for their detection.

Materials and methods: Four hundred patients with unexplained wrist pain were prospectively examined. All patients underwent standard three-view radiography of the wrist. Patients with cystic areas on conventional radiographs underwent further examination with bone scanning. Ultimately, 17 patients whose bone scans demonstrated increased radiotracer uptake that localized to a particular carpal bone underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Results: Of these 17 patients, intraosseous ganglion cysts were diagnosed in 15. Some of these ganglia were occult on conventional radiographs and were detected only at bone scanning and MR imaging.

Conclusion: Intraosseous ganglion cysts in the wrist are more common than previously reported. In some patients, bone scanning, conventional radiography, and/or MR imaging will aid surgical resection that could provide symptomatic relief of unexplained wrist pain.