SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF INTRAMUSCULAR GANGLIA

The study presents the ultrasound appearance of the intramuscular gang lia arising from the superior tibio-fibular joint. An oval, anechoic s eptated mass with distal sound enhancement in the antero-lateral aspec t of the leg was seen in five examined patients. In all the cases, ult rasound-guided needle aspiration was performed and viscous fluid chara cteristic of ganglia was obtained. All the patients were treated by su rgical excision of mass. Local recurrence, which occurred in three cas es, was confirmed by ultrasound. The study indicates that ultrasound i s useful in diagnosing intramuscular ganglia, in planning the treatmen t, and in the follow-up examination. Ultrasound-guided needle aspirati on is a helpful technique in confirming the diagnosis.