A computer worker with pain in both wrists for more than 3 months. No trauma.
The patient presented with a history of pain in both wrists for more than 3 months, with pain in the dorsal wrist of his right hand and volar on the ulnar side of the wrist of his left hand. He had worked on a personal computer for more than 8 hours a day for several years. There was no history of trauma. No lesions were seen on plain radiographs. MRI of both wrists was performed.
MRI showed small soft tissue ganglia on both wrists: on the right wrist related to the radio-carpal joint; on the left wrist proximal to the os pisiforme and also related to the carpal joints.
Ganglia are the most common soft-tissue tumours of the wrist and hand. They consist of encapsulated mucoid fluid, often related to joint spaces or tendon sheets. Clinically occult ganglia are detected by ultrasound,which is usually the first diagnostic choice and can in most cases detect even small wrist ganglias. To evaluate the origin of the ganglion,to image the surrounding anatomy and to exclude other pathology the next diagnostic step is MRI, which can detect ganglia from a size of about 3mm. On MRI they are of high signal in T2-weighted images and of low signal in T1-weighted images and well separated from the surrounding tissue, often with direct connection to the neighbouring articular space.
Bilateral ganglia of the wrists
Patient Information: Male, 39 years old, computer worker, bilateral wrist pain for over 3 months, with no history of trauma.
Based on the patient’s prolonged bilateral wrist discomfort, absence of significant trauma history, and imaging findings of multiple cystic lesions with high T2 and low T1 signal intensities that connect to the joint or tendon sheath, the most likely diagnosis is a wrist ganglion (tendon sheath cyst). If there are any remaining doubts, ultrasound-guided aspiration or pathological examination can be pursued to definitively exclude other possibilities.
Rehabilitation should be customized to the individual, following the FITT-VP principle:
Note: If there is any concern about bone or joint risks, exercises should be carried out under the supervision of a qualified rehabilitation therapist or physician. Pain and range of motion should be monitored continually to ensure safety.
This report is based on the current history and imaging data provided, serving as a reference analysis. It is not a substitute for in-person consultation or professional medical advice. If you have any questions or if symptoms worsen, please seek medical attention or further relevant examinations promptly for a definitive diagnosis.
Bilateral ganglia of the wrists