Haseki Tıp Bülteni (Jan 2022)
Investigation of the Relationship Between Wrist Ganglion Cysts and the Ulnar Variance Using 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Abstract
Aim:A ganglion cyst is the most common soft tissue mass in the wrist and although the etiology of ganglion cysts remains unclear, the commonly accepted theory is that they are due to acute or chronic stress in the joint, which may be also caused by ulnar variance. The study aims to evaluate the relationship of ulnar variance in the wrist with ganglion cysts in this region using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods:In this cross-sectional study, patients aged 18 years and over who underwent wrist MRI between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 were evaluated. The MR images and patient demographic data were obtained from a hospital database. The presence and size of the ganglion cyst and the amount of ulnar variance were assessed using the MR images. The ulnar variance was classified into negative, positive, and neutral groups to compare ganglion cyst presence between these groups.Results:A total of 216 wrists from 206 patients were included in the study. The ulnar variance was negative in 100 (46.3%) wrists, neutral in 99 (45.8%), and positive in 17 (7.9%). One or more ganglion cysts were observed in 130 (60.2%) wrists, and no ganglion cyst was found in 86 (39.8%). Compared to the neutral group, the patients with negative ulnar variance had a six-fold increased risk, and those with positive ulnar variance had a 12-fold increased risk of having a ganglion cyst.Conclusion:The presence of positive or negative ulnar variance increases the risk of having a ganglion cyst in the wrist. This may be related to soft tissue trauma caused by joint instability due to ulnar variance. MRI can be performed to evaluate the presence of ganglion cysts in patients with positive or negative ulnar variance detected on direct radiography.
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