Ces radiol. 2010, 64(1):52-56

Voluminous cyst of the shoulder jointCase report

Milouš Derner¹, Běla Drugová², Vilém Malý³

¹ Radiodiagnostické oddělení, Krajská zdravotní, a.s. - Masarykova nemocnice v Ústí nad Labem, o.z.

² Radiodiagnostické oddělení, Nemocnice Na Homolce, Praha 5

³ Oddělení hrudní chirurgie Krajská zdravotní, a.s. - Masarykova nemocnice v Ústí nad Labem, o.z.

Voluminous cystic lesions of the shoulder joint extending to the axilla and leading to the displacement of the axillary vessels and brachial plexus are rarely described. The authors present a case of 59 old male who suffered with pains of the left shoulder and irritation of the left ulnar nerve. MRI of the left shoulder joint revealed voluminous and a well demarcated cystic lesion in the left axilla measuring 90 × 74 × 65 mm and containing mulberry-like calcification (29 × 25 × 20 mm). Cystic mass displaced axillary vessels and brachial plexus and contributed to the neurological troubles of the patient. MRI examination also revealed direct communication of the cyst with the joint space in the vicinity of the fragmented glenoidal labrum. Regarding to the size of cystic lesion and to the intimate relationships with axillary vessels and nerves only partial resection of the paralabral cyst was performed. The postoperative MRI examination demonstrated only residuum of the cystic lesion with preserved communication with the joint space. MRI represents an optimal technique for evaluating characteristics, extent and topographical relations of cystic lesions and for pre-surgical planning.

Keywords: shoulder joint, paralabral cyst, calcification in the paralabral cyst, MRI

Accepted: January 15, 2010; Published: March 1, 2010  Show citation