Glenoid labral cyst of the shoulder associated with a SLAP II tear

Clinical Cases 07.07.2002
Scan Image
Section: Musculoskeletal system
Case Type: Clinical Cases
Patient: 18 years, male
Authors: I. Staikidou, G. Giannikouris, C. Pikoulas, G. Mantzikopoulos
icon
Details
icon
AI Report

Clinical History

The patient presented with a persistent dull pain in the right shoulder, exacerbated by abduction and external rotation. His habits included regular workout with weight lifting. History was negative. Clinical evaluation suggested a rotator cuff injury.

Imaging Findings

The patient presented with a persistent dull pain in the right shoulder, exacerbated by abduction and external rotation. His habits included regular workout with weight lifting. History was negative. Clinical evaluation suggested a rotator cuff injury.

An MRI examination was performed with SE T1-weighted, SE T2-weighted/PDW, TSE T2-weighted/SPIR and SE T1-weighted plus IV Gd-DTPA sequences in axial, oblique coronal, and oblique sagittal planes. An oval cystic lesion, 2cm in diameter, was found in a paraglenoid position under the suprapinatus muscle. The lesion was of low signal intensity in T1-weighted sequences and of high signal intensity in T2-weighted sequences. There was no enhancement after IV Gd-DTPA administration. There was a concomitant SLAP II tear of the glenoid labrum. The supraspinatus tendon showed evidence of degenerative changes. A surgical excision of the cyst was performed. The extent of the SLAP tear was found found to be in aggreement with the MR imaging findings.

Discussion

Glenoid labral cysts, also known as paralabral ganglion cysts, contain joint fluid and are most often found in or about the scapular notch [1]. In this location they may cause entrapment of the suprascapular nerve [2-5], which supplies nerve fibres to both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. Extrinsic pressure on the suprascapular nerve will cause pain and impairment of joint movements. Chronic nerve entrapment can lead to severe atrophic changes of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. A close relation exists between a paralabral cyst and the presence of a labral tear, most commonly a SLAP II tear [2]. Most researchers maintain that the pathogenesis of the cysts is via a leakage of joint fluid in the surrounding tissue planes through a tear of the glenoid labrum or the joint capsule, a mechanism analogous to the formation of meniscal cysts.

Differential Diagnosis List

Glenoid labral cyst with a SLAP II tear

Final Diagnosis

Glenoid labral cyst with a SLAP II tear

Liscense

Figures

T1-weighted spin echo sequence

icon
T1-weighted spin echo sequence

T2-weighted spin echo and PDW spin echo sequences

icon
T2-weighted spin echo and PDW spin echo sequences

T2-weighted FFE and T2-weighted turbo spin echo sequences

icon
T2-weighted FFE and T2-weighted turbo spin echo sequences