Epineural ganglion causing cubital tunnel syndrome: A case report

Although ganglions are the most common cause of ulnar tunnel syndrome, they are one of the rare causes of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). In this article, we report a 49-year-old female patient admitted to the outpatient clinic complaining of numbness and tingling in the ring and little fingers of the right hand. There was no history of systemic disease or previous trauma. The patient was diagnosed with CuTS in the light of clinical examination and nerve conduction studies. Simple cubital tunnel decompression was performed under general anesthesia and microsurgical exploration revealed a 2x2 cm epineural ganglion cyst compressing the ulnar nerve. The cyst was excised without damaging the ulnar nerve and cutaneous nerves. Histopathology also confirmed the ganglion cyst. In the postoperative period, the patient's clinical improvement was more satisfactory than nerve conduction studies. The diagnosis of CuTS is established by physical examination, provocative test, and nerve conduction studies. In patients who cannot achieve a satisfactory outcome by conservative treatment, the cyst should be kept in mind among etiologic factors. Magnetic resonance imaging should be requested for accurate diagnosis and preoperative surgical planning.