Pseudocyst of the humerus
Updates to Article Attributes
Pseudocyst of the humerus, also referred as a humeral head pseudolesion, is a normal anatomical variant due to increased cancellous bone in the region of the greater tuberosity of the humerus which is seen as a lucent lesion on radiography.
Hyperaemia and disuse caused by shoulder problems (such as rotator cuff disorders) cause this area of lucency to appear more lucent and mimic a lytic lesion (e.g. chondroblastoma, infection, or even a metastatic focus) and mistakenly undergo biopsy.
Therefore, pseudocyst of the humerus is one of the skeletal "do not touch" lesions.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
May show a lucent lesion in the region of the humeral greater tuberosity, whichoften with a somewhat well defined inferior curvilinear margin whilst the upper margin is generally ill-defined 2. Pseudocysts are thought to be so radiographically characteristic that itthey should not be biopsied.
CT
Similar appearances to on plain radiograph.
Nuclear medicine - bone scan
Bone scan may show increased radionuclide uptake due to hyperaemia (and thus sway the surgeon to perform a biopsy).
-<p><strong>Pseudocyst of the humerus</strong>, also referred as a humeral head pseudolesion, is a normal anatomical variant due to increased cancellous bone in the region of the <a href="/articles/humeral-greater-tuberosity">greater tuberosity</a> of the humerus which is seen as a lucent lesion on radiography.</p><p>Hyperaemia and disuse caused by shoulder problems (such as <a href="/articles/rotator-cuff">rotator cuff</a> disorders) cause this area of lucency to appear more lucent and mimic a lytic lesion (e.g. <a href="/articles/chondroblastoma">chondroblastoma</a>, <a href="/articles/osteomyelitis">infection</a>, or even a metastatic focus) and mistakenly undergo biopsy.</p><p>Therefore, pseudocyst of the humerus is one of the <a href="/articles/skeletal-do-not-touch-lesions-1">skeletal "do not touch" lesions</a>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>May show a lucent lesion in the region of the humeral greater tuberosity, which is so radiographically characteristic that it should not be biopsied.</p><h5>CT</h5><p>Similar appearances to on plain radiograph.</p><h5>Nuclear medicine - bone scan</h5><p>Bone scan may show increased radionuclide uptake due to hyperaemia (and thus sway the surgeon to perform a biopsy).</p>- +<p><strong>Pseudocyst of the humerus</strong>, also referred as a humeral head pseudolesion, is a normal anatomical variant due to increased cancellous bone in the region of the <a href="/articles/humeral-greater-tuberosity">greater tuberosity</a> of the humerus which is seen as a lucent lesion on radiography.</p><p>Hyperaemia and disuse caused by shoulder problems (such as <a href="/articles/rotator-cuff">rotator cuff</a> disorders) cause this area of lucency to appear more lucent and mimic a lytic lesion (e.g. <a href="/articles/chondroblastoma">chondroblastoma</a>, <a href="/articles/osteomyelitis">infection</a>, or even a metastatic focus) and mistakenly undergo biopsy.</p><p>Therefore, pseudocyst of the humerus is one of the <a href="/articles/skeletal-do-not-touch-lesions-1">skeletal "do not touch" lesions</a>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>May show a lucent lesion in the region of the humeral greater tuberosity, often with a somewhat well defined inferior curvilinear margin whilst the upper margin is generally ill-defined <sup>2</sup>. Pseudocysts are thought to be so radiographically characteristic that they should not be biopsied.</p><h5>CT</h5><p>Similar appearances to on plain radiograph.</p><h5>Nuclear medicine - bone scan</h5><p>Bone scan may show increased radionuclide uptake due to hyperaemia (and thus sway the surgeon to perform a biopsy).</p>