ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTICS OF SYNOVIAL CYSTS OF THE HAND AND WRIST

Purpose – to evaluate the efficiency and rationale for a mandatory ultrasound examination of patients with synovial cysts of the hand and wrist joint.Material and methods. The authors performed examination and following treatment of 274 patients with synovial cysts of the hand from 2005 till 2017. The diagnostics was performed basing on clinical and medical history data, roentgenology findings, ultrasonographic data, intraoperative diagnostics and postoperative histological studies. When needed MRT was performed in 35 (12.8%) patients and CT scans in 7 (2.6%) patients. In the presence of clinical signs of lesions in the forearm nerves the examination algorithm was supplemented by electroneuromyography in 17 (6.2%) patients.Results. The ultrasound tests for examination of soft tissues tumors included were characterized by sensitivity of 97.4%, specificity — 99.1% and diagnostic efficiency — 0.96%.Conclusion. Ultrasonographic examination in cases of synovial cysts of the hand and wrist joint allows to perform topical diagnostics, to identify secondary alterations in adjacent anatomical structures and to determine the cause for secondary clinical semiology.