Radial Nerve Compression Caused by a Ganglion Cyst at the Elbow

Kim,  Dong Hwi; Ko,  Hyo Sun; Jun,  Young Joon

doi:2017.22.2.132

Arch Hand Microsurg > Volume 22(2); 2017 > Article

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 2017;22(2):132-136.
Published online June 30, 2017.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12790/jkssh.2017.22.2.132

Radial Nerve Compression Caused by a Ganglion Cyst at the Elbow

Dong Hwi Kim, Hyo Sun Ko, Young Joon Jun

Department of Plastic Surgery, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea. joony@catholic.ac.kr

Received: 3 December 2016 • Revised: 9 March 2017 • Accepted: 22 March 2017

Abstract

Although ganglion cyst is a relatively common benign mass in soft tissues, there have been very few reports of intramuscular ganglion cyst. We encountered such a case located in the antecubital fossa originating from the supinator muscle. A 61-year-old woman presented with a painless mass in the antecubital fossa. However, the patient complained of a significant sensory deficit in the radial side of the thumb, index, and middle finger. She also had extensor weakness at the metacarpophalangeal joint. The mass was excised completely, with no post-surgical complications. Pathologic results revealed the ganglion cyst. The patient showed improvements in sensory dysfunction and extensor weakness. Intramuscular ganglion cyst can be misdiagnosed. This report might be useful for making an accurate diagnosis and rapidly initiating treatment for an intramuscular mass.