GANGLION CYSTS
Ganglion cysts 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. Ganglion cysts are typically round or oval and are filled with
a jellylike fluid.
Small
ganglion cysts can be pea-sized, while larger ones can be around an inch (2.5
centimeters) in diameter. Ganglion cysts can be painful if they press on a
nearby nerve. Their location can sometimes interfere with joint movement.
Symptoms
The lumps associated with ganglion cysts
can be characterized by:
·
Location. Ganglion cysts most commonly develop along the
tendons or joints of your wrists or hands. The next most common locations are
the ankles and feet. These cysts can occur near other joints as well.
·
Shape and size. Ganglion cysts are round or oval and usually
measure less than an inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter. Some are so small that
they can't be felt. The size of a cyst can fluctuate, often getting larger when
you use that joint for repetitive motions.
·
Pain. Ganglion cysts usually are painless. But if a cyst
presses on a nerve — even if the cyst is too small to form a noticeable lump —
it can cause pain, tingling, numbness or muscle weakness.
Causes
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 tiny water balloon on a stalk, and
seems to occur when the tissue that surrounds a joint or a tendon bulges out of
place. Inside the cyst is a thick lubricating fluid similar to that found in
joints or around tendons.
Risk factors
Factors that may increase your risk of
ganglion cysts include:
·
Your sex and age. Ganglion cysts can develop in anyone, but they most
commonly occur in women between the ages of 20 and 40.
·
Osteoarthritis. People who have wear-and-tear arthritis in the
finger joints closest to their fingernails are at higher risk of developing
ganglion cysts near those joints.
·
Joint or tendon injury. Joints or tendons that have been injured in the
past are more likely to develop ganglion cysts.
Diagnosis
During the
physical exam, your doctor may apply pressure to the cyst to test for
tenderness or discomfort. He or she may try to shine a light through the cyst
to determine if it's a solid mass or filled with fluid.
Your doctor
might also recommend imaging tests — such as X-rays, ultrasound or magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) — to rule out other conditions, such as arthritis or a
tumor. MRIs and ultrasounds also can locate hidden (occult) 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. Fluid from a ganglion cyst will be thick and clear or translucent.
Treatment
Ganglion cysts are often painless,
requiring no treatment. Your doctor may suggest a watch-and-wait approach. If
the cyst is causing pain or interfering with joint movement, your doctor may
recommend:
·
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 the pressure on your nerves, relieving
pain. Avoid long-term use of a brace or splint, which can cause the nearby
muscles to weaken.
·
Aspiration. In this procedure, your doctor uses a needle to
drain the fluid from the cyst. The cyst may recur.
·
Surgery. This may be an option if other approaches haven't
worked. During this procedure, the doctor removes the cyst and the stalk that
attaches it to the joint or tendon. Rarely, the surgery can injure the
surrounding nerves, blood vessels or tendons. And the cyst can recur, even
after surgery.
