Paralabral Cyst Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

Paralabral cysts are enlargements that form close to the shoulder joint's socket. This cyst is also known as a ganglion cyst. It is rare to observe a direct relationship between a joint and a cyst. A paralabral cyst occurs when a concentrated and well-defined deposit of fluid is observed outside the joints underneath the tears of the labrum. Depending on their number and location, they can be unilocular or multilocular. Paralabral cysts may not cause pain on their own, but labral tears that are present with the cysts do cause pain. These cysts have the potential to grow huge and press on certain nerves that are crucial to the shoulder area.

Paralabral Cyst Symptoms

Most of the time, shoulder ganglion cysts do not cause any problems. But sometimes the cysts get bigger and press on important parts of the body, like nerves or tendons. Ganglion cysts at the rear of the shoulder can push on the suprascapular nerve, causing pain and paralysis in the shoulder blade muscles. The paralabral cyst that develops at the base of the joint of the shoulder is another illustration of the problematic cysts. The axillary nerve is compressed by this ganglion cyst, causing armpit pain and partial deltoid muscle atrophy. This cyst typically causes continuous pain that is not exacerbated by movement. 

Paralabral Cyst Causes

Paralabral cysts are prevalent in individuals with hip labral tears, appearing on MRI in 50 to 70% of cases. In some instances, the cysts can grow to a significant size and cause compression of the neurovascular system. A labral rupture is the most prevalent cause of ganglion cysts in the shoulder. Labral tears, like SLAP tears (Superior Labrum, Anterior to Posterior tears), can be caused by trauma (dislocation), overuse, sports, and getting older. Labral tears can sometimes cause fluid to leak out of the shoulder joint and form a ganglion cyst.

Paralabral Cyst Diagnosis

The most common complaint of paralabral cyst patients is chronic shoulder pain. To determine whether or not it is because of a paralabral cyst, an MRI or an MR Arthrogram is performed. If there are no symptoms of nerve compression, it can be a little more difficult to pinpoint the diagnosis. To correctly diagnose this uncommon source of chronic shoulder pain, understanding the clinical situation and its imagined aspects is essential.

In the majority of instances, paralabral cysts are found in the region of the shoulder girdle. These cysts are thought to form as a result of a one-way valve effect caused by synovial fluid being driven into the tissues as a result of a labral or capsular tear. On MRI, muscular atrophy and fat accumulation are frequently seen, providing a vivid picture of muscle wasting. The MRI also eliminates alternative reasons for shoulder pain.

Paralabral Cyst Treatment

The harshness of the pain and functional loss determine the treatment options. If the patient is not in distress, shoulder restoration to maximize function is the only healing option. However, if the pain is so severe that it is impeding the patient's ability to carry out daily tasks, surgery is mostly considered. Paralabral cysts that cause nerve compression require arthroscopic correction of the labral rupture, as well as nerve decompression and cyst drainage. Paralabral cysts are less common after labral surgery, and patients report less pain and better shoulder function as a result.