Distortion of the radial artery by a mucinous cyst

Three cases of mucinous cyst situated close to the radial artery are report ed. The patients complained of pain, a throbbing mass, or both at the wrist . Colour Doppler sonography showed distortion of the radial artery by the c yst in all three patients. In one patient the cyst was connected to a synov ial sac by a pedicle, in another it was adherent to the radial artery but w as identified histopathologically as a simple ganglion, and in the last pat ient a branch of the radial artery was involved in the cyst, which was iden tified histopathologically as an adventitial cyst. Mucinous cysts enlarge w hen subjected to mechanical stress. Excision is recommended for cysts that distort the radial artery.