Suprascapular nerve entrapment caused by an intraosseous ganglion of the scapula

RATIONALE Suprascapular nerve compression is a rare but important entity that is often missed in clinical practice. Nerve dysfunction caused by an intraosseous ganglion of the glenoid is extremely rare, to the best of our knowledge, only 1 case of suprascapular nerve entrapment due to an intraosseous ganglion cyst has been reported previously in the published literature. PATIENT CONCERNS We report a 61-year-old woman who had complained right shoulder pain that lasted over 3 years which was exacerbated by overhead activities. DIAGNOSES We diagnosed it as suprascapular nerve entrapment at the spinoglenoid notch caused by an intraosseous ganglion of the scapula. INTERVENTIONS Plain X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electromyography (EMG) of the shoulder. OUTCOMES She undertook surgical excision with curettage of the cyst. The infraspinatus fossa dull pain subsided immediately after surgery. No recurrence of the cystic lesion was noted on follow-up plain radiograph and MRI performed 18 months postoperatively. Shoulder external rotation strength was graded as 5 of 5. LESSIONS Intraosseous ganglion of the glenoid can cause compression of the suprascapular nerve when the lesion is expanded toward the spinoglenoid notch. The EMG study confirmed compression of the suprascapular nerve. The patient showed clinical and radiologic improvement after surgical decompression with no recurrence.