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A rare case of cystic ganglionosis in a child with associated imaging findings

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Abstract

Ganglia are benign soft tissue masses that are found adjacent to joints and tendons. They can be multifocal but they are rarely more numerous than a few around any given joint. “Cystic ganglionosis” has been used to describe a condition in which multifocal and extensive ganglia are present. We present a rare case of cystic ganglionosis in a Caucasian girl with clinical symptoms detected at 6 months of age. To the authors’ knowledge, only a single other case report of cystic ganglionosis is documented in the English medical literature. The ganglia in this case are more extensive, manifested at an earlier age and caused erosions of multiple bones, a rarely observed complication of ganglia. Additionally, radiograph, MR and sonographic images collected over 9 years time allows for a detailed description of the imaging characteristics of this case of cystic ganglionosis, and offers unique insight into the natural history of this diagnosis. Extensive ganglia in multiple locations in a young child should alert clinicians to the possibility of cystic ganglionosis. Disease progression may lead to deleterious effects on bone warranting the use of maintenance imaging and possibly surgical resection of symptomatic lesions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin & Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, 9000 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    Nathan P. Meyer, Arthur B. Meyers & Nghia J. Vo

  2. Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin & Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, 9000 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    Sara Szabo

Authors
  1. Nathan P. Meyer
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  2. Arthur B. Meyers
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  3. Sara Szabo
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  4. Nghia J. Vo
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Correspondence to Arthur B. Meyers.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Meyer, N.P., Meyers, A.B., Szabo, S. et al. A rare case of cystic ganglionosis in a child with associated imaging findings. Skeletal Radiol 45, 419–426 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-015-2294-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-015-2294-2

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