GANGLION CYSTS

Ganglion cysts are common swellings or masses that develop within the hand and wrist. A ganglion is an accumulation of a jelly-like fluid within a tissue sheath that grows out of a joint, similar to a balloon on a stalk. These non-cancerous cysts grow in the wrist or at the end joint or base of a finger.

Ganglia are often pea-sized, but can grow due to increased movement of the affected joint or disappear completely without warning. Most ganglion cysts cause some degree of discomfort, although they are often painless. One large cyst or many smaller ones may develop. Multiple small cysts can give the appearance of more than one cyst, but a common stalk within the deeper tissue usually connects them.

Though the specific causes of ganglion cysts are unknown, several factors do seem to influence their formation. The cysts occur more frequently in women and in individuals whose occupational or leisure activities repeatedly apply stress to the wrist.

As ganglion cysts are harmless, the first course of treatment is often non-surgical. However, if the symptoms are not adequately relieved or the cyst remains unsightly, a number of minimally invasive surgical options can be recommended. Arthroscopic treatment of wrist ganglions has been demonstrated to be highly effective with a faster post-operative recovery in most cases. The most common complication of any form of treatment is recurrence.