Pseudocyst of the humerus
Updates to Article Attributes
A pseudocyst of the humerus 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.
Hyperemia and disuse caused by shoulder problems (such as rotator cuff disorders) causecauses this area of lucency mayto appear more lucent and mimic a lytic lesion (e.g. chondroblastoma, infection, or even a metastatic focus) and mistakenly undergoneundergo biopsy.
Therefore pseudocyst of humerus is one of the skeletal "do not touch" lesions.
Radiographic features
Plain radiography and CT
May show a lucent lesion in the region of the humeral greater tuberosity, which is so radiographically characteristic that it should not be biopsied.
Nuclear medicine - bone scan
Bone scan may show increased radionuclide uptake due to hyperaemia (and thus sway the surgeon to perform a biopsy).
-<p>A<strong> pseudocyst of the humerus</strong> 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>Hyperemia and disuse caused by shoulder problems (such as <a href="/articles/rotator-cuff">rotator cuff</a> disorders) cause this area of lucency may 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 undergone biopsy. </p><p>Therefore pseudocyst of 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 radiography and CT</h5><p>May show a lucent lesion in the region of the humeral greater tuberosity, which is so radiographically characteristic that should not be biopsied.</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>A<strong> pseudocyst of the humerus</strong> 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>Hyperemia and disuse caused by shoulder problems (such as <a href="/articles/rotator-cuff">rotator cuff</a> disorders) causes 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 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 radiography and CT</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>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>