What Is a Ganglion Cyst?
Ganglion cysts, additionally referred to as bible cysts, most ordinarily show au courant the rear of the hand at the wrist however they will additionally develop on the palm facet of the wrist joint. they will additionally show up in different areas, however these square measure less common:
- The base of the fingers on the palm, where they appear as small pea-sized bumps
- The fingertip, just below the cuticle, where they are called mucous cysts
- The outside of the knee and ankle
- The top of the foot
Explanation of medical terms and concepts Ganglion cyst
Ganglions are noncancerous lumps that most commonly develop along the tendons or joints of your wrists or hands They also may occur in the ankles and feet and they are typically round or oval and filled with a jellylike fluid
If you have a ganglion cyst and your doctor has recommended surgery you may also want to try draining it with a needle If there are no symptoms no treatment is necessary In many cases the cysts disappear without any treatment at all
Ganglion cyst care at Mayo Clinic
Symptoms Ganglion cyst
When ganglion cysts occur in the eye they can be characterized by:
- Location.Ganglions most commonly develop along the tendons or joints of your wrist hands ankles and feet The next most common locations are the knees elbows and upper spine These cysts can be found in other places as well
- Shape and size.Ganglion cysts are usually round or oval and they will vary in size Some cysts can be so small that they are not felt at all The size of a cyst may increase when you move the joint repetitively
- Pain.Ganglion cysts are usually painless but if a cyst presses on a nerve even if it is too small to form an obvious lump it can cause pain and tingling numbness
When to see a doctor
If you have a noticeable lump in your wrist ankle or foot see your doctor to determine whether you need treatment
Causes Ganglion cyst
No one knows exactly what causes a ganglion cyst to develop It grows out of a joint or the lining of a tendon looking like a bigger water-filled balloon on stalks and appears to occur when the tissue surrounding a joint or tendons bulges out of place The cyst is filled with thick lubricating fluid similar to that in joints and tendons In joints and around tendons osteoarthritis is found
Risk factors Ganglion cyst
Factors that may increase your risk of ganglion cysts include: smoking a family history of the disease and being female
- Your sex and age.Ganglion cysts develop in any person but they most commonly occur in women between the ages of 20 and 40.
- Osteoarthritis.People who have arthritis in the fingers closest to their nails are at higher risk of developing ganglion cysts
- Joint or tendon injury.The joints or tendons that have been injured in the past are more likely to develop ganglion cysts
Diagnosis Ganglion cyst
During the physical exam your doctor may apply pressure to the cyst so that it feels tender or painful He or she may shine a light through the cyst to see if it is solid or filled with fluid
Your doctor might also recommend additional tests such as X-rays ultrasound or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to locate any other possible causes of your pain In addition to an MRI or ultrasound an x-ray can identify hidden cysts
A ganglion cyst diagnosis may be confirmed by aspiration a process in which your doctor uses a needle and syringe to draw out (aspirate) the fluid in the cyst The fluid from a ganglion cyst will be thick and clear or translucent
Treatment Ganglion cyst
- Immobilization.Because activity can cause the ganglion cyst to get larger it may help to temporarily immobilize the area with a brace or splint As the cyst shrinks it may release pressure on nerves relieving pain Avoid long-term use of a brace or splint that can weaken nearby muscles
- Aspiration.In this procedure your doctor uses a needle to drain the fluid from the cyst The cyst may recur after being drained
- Surgery.If the usual strategies haven’t worked this might be an option During the procedure the doctor removes the cyst and the stalk that attaches it to a joint or tendon Rarely surgery can injure surrounding nerves blood vessels or tendons And sometimes cysts can recur even after surgery
When does a ganglion cyst need surgery?
Your Dr. could use open (traditional) techniques or operation (tiny incisions). In some cases, surgeons could take some tissue from the close joint to totally repair the matter.
Surgery to get rid of a neural structure cyst is named ganglionectomy. it's typically AN patient procedure. meaning you ought to get to travel home the day of surgery. Full recovery takes 2 to 6 weeks. orthopedical surgeons receive specialised coaching to perform labyrinthine procedures on the body’s joints and alternative soft tissues.
Surgery could effectively resolve your symptoms. Having a neural structure cyst surgically removed greatly reduces the chance of a cyst returning. Still, ganglia come when surgery in AN calculable five-hitter to fifteen of cases.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Consider pain killers such as Advil (Motrin IB) Aleve or naprosyn (Anaprox) In some instances modifying your shoes or how you lace them can reduce the pain associated with ganglion cysts on your ankles and feet
Things not to do
A ganglion cyst is located in the wrist or hand It can be treated by using a heavy object to hit it This treatment isn't a good idea because even though the force of the blow can damage surrounding structures you may also damage your hand or foot in doing so Also don't try to pop the cyst yourself by puncturing it with a needle because this technique doesn't work very well When it comes to conflicts you really don’t want to be in the right Don’t be the one who gets blamed for all the problems
Preparing for your appointment
You may start with a primary care doctor He or she may refer you to a hand surgeon
What you can do
Before your appointment you may want to write answers to the following questions:
- How long have you had the lump? Do you ever feel it move?
- Have you ever injured the joint nearest the lump?
- Do you have arthritis?
- What medications and supplements do you take regularly?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor may ask you a number of questions being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on Your doctor may ask:
- Do you have any pain or tenderness?
- Do you think your joint is interfering with your ability to use it?
- What if anything seems to improve your symptoms?
- What if anything appears to worsen your symptoms? If so what can you do about it?
General summary
If a ganglion cyst on your wrist causes you pain consult with your primary care doctor Tenderness in the area of the cyst can mean there's an underlying problem that needs to be addressed For example if calcium is not being absorbed properly due to an underactive parathyroid gland or other disease it can result in larger than normal fluid-filled sacs called pseudocysts The doctor may recommend monitoring the cyst over time to make sure it doesn't get bigger and cause more discomfort A doctor might also suggest surgery to remove the abnormally large cyst that's causing problems
What happens if you leave a ganglion cyst untreated?
The potential outcomes of ignoring a ganglion cyst are that it may become infected get bigger or move An infected ganglion can cause the skin to turn red and warm to the touch The cysts surrounding tendon sheaths sometimes called ganglionic cystomas can wiggle around like fingers They appear as shiny lumps and feel rubbery Untreated cysts might ultimately press on nerves and blood vessels causing pain and even losing function in certain areas of the hand or wrist
How do you make a ganglion cyst go away?
Although ganglion cysts are generally benign and do not cause any health problems they can be painful and unsightly They form at the joints typically in the hand or wrist due to an imbalance of a growth hormone called human pituitary tumor-derived growth factor (PDGF) according to InHealth Medical The balance between PDGF and other factors involved with how your body heals tissue causes the joint capsule cells to become swollen and form ganglia The occurrence of these cysts is more common among women than men but anyone can develop them Treatments for removing ganglion cysts usually involve
What problems can a ganglion cyst cause?
Ganglion cysts cause pain and swelling in the affected area They are benign but if they are ruptured a variety of infections can result from their contents leaking into your body The most common type is a ganglion cyst in the wrist which causes pain Ganglia can be surgically removed to relieve pressure and reduce discomfort or you may require antibiotics if an infection occurs after surgery has taken place