OCCULT DORSAL CARPAL GANGLION - COMPARISON OF US AND MR-IMAGING

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound (US) and magnetic re sonance (MR) imaging in patients suspected of having an occult dorsal carpal ganglion.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors prospectively studi ed US and MR images of 14 wrists in 13 consecutive patients suspected of having an occult dorsal carpal ganglion. RESULTS: Eleven dorsal car pal ganglia were identified with US and nine with MR imaging. One pati ent refused the MR imaging study. Of two equivocal cases at MR imaging , one was a ganglion and another was a compressible capsular recess, a s determined at US. One ganglion was missed with both techniques. The average diameter of the ganglion cysts was 4.9 mm. CONCLUSION: MR imag ing and US are equally effective in the detection of occult dorsal car pal ganglia. Because of its dynamic capabilities and lower cost, US sh ould be the initial imaging procedure for suspected occult dorsal carp al ganglia.