Elbow Region Ganglion Cyst: A Case Report and Brief Review of Literature

A ganglion cyst is a small sac of fluid that forms over a joint or tendon (tissue that connects muscle to bone). A 23-year-old woman, right hand dominant, and Laboratory expert, was referred with a 1-year history of a lump in the anterior aspect of her elbow associated with altered sensation in the anterolateral aspect of her left hand. Her elbow was painful and the mass progressive increased in size during the last 1.5 months. There was no history of trauma, injections or manipulation. The patient had no symptoms of fever, ulcers, or numbness. On physical examination, there was a tendered mass about 4 cm in diameter in the anterior aspect of the elbow. X-ray was normal and MRI confirmed a mass along with a radiocapitellar capsule. The cyst and radial nerve were explored through an anterolateral curved incision, with ligation of the radial recurrent vessels. The cyst was on the capsule of the radiocapitellar joint and posterior to the interosseous nerve at the proximal fibers on the edge of the supinator muscle. The cyst was identified as a ganglion clinically, and excised completely. Pathology finding  confirmed it. The lateral elbow pain disappeared immediately after surgery, with no neurological deficit. The patient returned to work after 1 month.