Carpal tunnel syndrome or C8/T1 radiculoneuropathy due to perinural cyst: A diagnostic conundrum

Abstract

Perineural cysts are usually described in Lumbosacral region and are uncommonly seen in cervical spine.These are mostly asymptomatic, with only a few cases of symptomatic cervical perineural cysts.No previous case report of perineural cyst causing C8/T1 radiculoneuropathy mimicking clinically as Carpal tunn?el syndrome is reported in the literature. We report a case of elderly female who was operated for presumed Carpal tunnel syndrome. However, her symptoms did not improve. The MRI of the patient revealed presence of perineural cysts at the level of C8/T1 exiting nerve root, compressing it and causing the symptoms. We present the clinical, nerve conduction study and radiological presentation of cervical perineural cyst mimicking Carpal tunnel syndrome in this patient.

Keywords

• carpal tunnel
• mri
• neuropathy
• perineural cyst