Published in:
01-12-2013 | Original Article
Ganglion cysts in the paediatric wrist: magnetic resonance imaging findings
Published in: Pediatric Radiology | Issue 12/2013
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Background
The majority of published literature on ganglion cysts in children has been from a surgical perspective, with no dedicated radiologic study yet performed.
Objective
Our aim was to assess the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of ganglion cysts in a series of paediatric MR wrist examinations.
Materials and methods
Ninety-seven consecutive paediatric MR wrist examinations were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of ganglion cysts. Only those studies with wrist ganglia were included. Cysts were assessed for location, size, internal characteristics and secondary effect(s).
Results
Forty-one ganglion cysts (2–32 mm in size) were seen in 35/97 (36%) patients (24 female, 11 male), mean age: 13 years 11 months (range: 6 years 3 months-18 years). The majority were palmar (63.4%) with the remainder dorsal. Of the cysts, 43.9% were related to a wrist ligament(s), 36.6% to a joint and 17.1% to the triangular fibrocartilage complex. Of the patients, 91.4% had wrist symptoms: pain (n=29, 82.9%), swelling (n=7, 20%) and/or palpable mass (n=4, 11.4%); 71.4% patients had significant additional wrist abnormalities.
Conclusion
Ganglion cysts were frequently found in children referred for wrist MRI.