- What is a ganglion cyst?
Ganglion cysts are nodules that occur on the palms, backs of hands such as wrists, fingers or ankles. This is the most common benign tumor in our body. A swelling that occurs in the membrane surrounding the joints and can be felt as a lump under the skin. The inside is filled with joint fluid.
They range in size from the size of a pea to the size of a small chestnut. The more you move your hand, the larger it becomes and vice versa. Ganglion cysts are more common in women and in people between the ages of 10 ~ 30.
- Causes of ganglion cysts
The cause of ganglion cysts remains unclear. However, the mechanism is that the cells of the membrane surrounding tendons and joints undergo degenerative changes and produce mucus, which over time forms a lump.
- Symptoms of ganglion cysts
Felt a lump, didn’t see any other symptoms.
When the size of the cyst increases to a certain extent, discomfort may be felt as if the surrounding tissues are being squeezed by joint movement. If you have a lump on the back of your hand, the wrist is bent towards the palm, causing the cyst to protrude more and become stiff and uncomfortable. If there are cysts in your knuckles, you will feel pain when holding them.
Sometimes, specific symptoms appear depending on the location and size of the cyst. If the cyst is near a blood vessel, you may feel a stronger pulse and experience mild pain.
- How should ganglion cysts be diagnosed?
Ganglion cysts are diagnosed according to the location of the tumor, its motility, and sensation on palpation. Diagnosis is also made by observing a clear, jelly-like sticky fluid extracted with a syringe. Withdrawing the fluid with a syringe only removes it temporarily, after 1 ~ 2 days the cyst will grow again. Therefore, this method is not considered a treatment. Ganglion cysts can also be caused by other factors, so X-rays, ultrasound or MRI may be performed to determine the cause.
- How should ganglion cysts be treated?
If painless, ganglion cysts are usually treated conservatively. Be sure to limit too much hand activity.
If the tumor is large or painful, the joint fluid in the cyst can be extracted. However, because the sac is still present, the possibility of the ganglion cyst recurring is very high. If this does not work, or the pain is more severe, surgery will be needed to remove the sac and part of the joint membrane that is causing the ganglion cyst.
Ganglion cysts themselves are not dangerous and rarely cause discomfort. Therefore, sometimes no treatment is needed and the ganglion cyst can rupture and disappear on its own.
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