Ganglion Cysts are lumps that may appear on your hands or wrists. They grow out of the tendons, ligaments, and other tissues surrounding your joints. These lumps are filled with fluid similar to the type that lubricates your joints.
Ganglion Cysts are benign (non-cancerous) and often harmless on their own, though they can cause pain if they place pressure on a nearby nerve. This may be more likely if a cyst is large or growing over time, though nerve pressure and pain can still occur when a cyst is too small to be easily noticeable.
It’s unclear what causes Ganglion Cysts. They occur most often in women between the ages of 15 and 40, though men can also develop them. Additionally, cysts that develop at the end joint of a finger are more common for women between the ages of 40 and 70 suffering from arthritis in this part of their hand. Injuries to joints and tendons may also make these tissues more likely to develop Ganglion Cysts.
Non-surgical approaches such as aspiration, which involves draining fluid from a cyst, as well as immobilization, which stops physical activity that can cause a cyst to increase in size, can alleviate symptoms or reduce the cyst’s size. However, these treatments may fail to permanently eliminate the cyst if its connection to its root joint or tendon is not removed.
If non-surgical methods fail to provide lasting relief or prevent the return of the cyst, your doctor may recommend surgically removing the cyst. This is called an excision and is generally an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll be able to go home on the same day as your surgery.
If a Ganglion Cyst is causing you pain or interfering with your regular activities, our orthopedic specialists can help. Schedule a consultation with one of our Queens Ganglion Cyst removal doctors now.