Ultrasonography: A Reliable Technique for Detecting Ganglion Cysts in the Supraspinatus Fossa

Although shoulder pain caused by entrapment of the suprascapular nerve at the supraspina-tus fossa is rare, nerve compression by the ganglion cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Such lesions can be treated with aspiration or surgical intervention. Here, we present the case of a middle-aged man with chronic right shoulder pain and marked right infraspinatus muscle atrophy without history of trauma. Sonograms showed a well-defined anechoic lesion with posterior enhancement in the supraspinatus fossa. Power Doppler study showed no flow in the lesion. After the patient underwent surgery for right suprascapular nerve compression syndrome caused by a ganglion cyst, all symptoms were relieved. In this case, ultrasonographic examination was valuable in detecting ganglionic cyst entrapment neuropathy. We recommend ultrasonography as a screening examination for shoulder pathology.