Ganglion Cyst

What is a ganglion cyst?

A ganglion cyst (plural: ganglia) is a small, fluid-filled lump just below your skin. This type of cyst can develop when you have a tear in the tissue that covers a tendon or joint. This causes the tissue to bulge and create a sac. Another name for a ganglion cyst is a bible cyst.

Ganglia often appear at specific joints. Moving the joint near the cyst may increase swelling and worsen any discomfort you feel. But ganglia aren’t cancerous and are usually harmless. Ganglion cysts typically develop on your:

• Wrist: On the front or back.
• Finger: Near any finger joint (close to your palm or just below your fingernail).
• Foot: Close to your ankle or near your toes.

Some ganglion (pronounced “gang-glee-uhn”) cysts are so small that you may not see an obvious lump under your skin, but they still cause pain. They are known as occult ganglions. Your healthcare provider may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test or an ultrasound to reveal them.

How common are ganglia?

Many people get ganglion cysts. Bible cysts are some of the most common benign (noncancerous) masses that develop in your body’s soft tissues.

What are ganglion cyst symptoms?

A bump beneath your skin is the main sign of a ganglion cyst. This bump can vary in size and shape. It may grow larger over time or when you move that area (joint) more. The cyst may not bother you at all. If you do have symptoms, you may notice some muscle pain or a tingling sensation. This is usually mass effect, which means that the mass is causing pressure and may cause inflammation.

Bible cysts are usually (but not always) firm to the touch. Some people report that the fluid-filled cysts are soft. The lump likely moves easily under your skin.

How do you tell if a lump is a ganglion cyst?

A ganglion cyst usually looks like a lump or bump on your wrist, finger or foot. This lump may look symmetrical (round) or misshapen (more like an oval).

A ganglion cyst sits just below your skin’s surface. It may look like a bubble blown from a joint. Ganglia sometimes have a translucent effect (you can see through the lump at certain angles).

What causes ganglion cysts?

No one knows exactly what causes a ganglion cyst to start growing. Some theories indicate that a cyst may develop after an injury to a joint or tendon, which allows tissue to leak or bulge out.

Who gets ganglion cysts?

Anyone can get a ganglion cyst. But certain factors may increase your chances of having one of these cysts:

• Sex: People assigned female at birth (AFAB) develop ganglia three times more often than people assigned male at birth (AMAB).
• Age: For most people who develop a ganglion cyst, it appears in early to mid-adulthood, between ages 20 and 50.
• Previous injury: Some healthcare providers believe a joint injury (such as tendonitis from overusing your wrist) can cause a ganglion cyst to develop in the future.
• Arthritis: Having arthritis in your hands makes it more likely you’ll get a ganglion cyst. People with arthritis often get a ganglion cyst near their fingertips (at the joint closest to their nail). But having a ganglion cyst on your finger doesn’t mean you have (or will get) arthritis.

How is a ganglion cyst diagnosed?

Healthcare providers usually diagnose bible cysts by performing a physical exam. A lump’s appearance and location (such as on your wrist or fingers) are telltale signs of ganglia. Your provider may press on the bump to see if it bothers you. Or they may shine a light on the lump to see if it’s translucent (partly see-through). Your provider may recommend an X-ray to look for underlying joint arthritis near the cyst.

In some cases, your provider may remove a sample from inside the lump (called a biopsy) for further analysis. Ganglia usually contain a jelly-like fluid, not solid tissue.

How do I get rid of my ganglion cyst?

Ganglion cyst treatments include:

• Anti-inflammatory medication may minimize swelling, easing mild levels of discomfort.
• Splints or braces offer support and stop you from moving the affected area, reducing swelling and pain.
• Aspiration is a procedure where your provider uses a needle to remove fluid from the cyst. Providers usually do aspiration in their office. You may feel better right away. Because this treatment only removes the fluid and not the entire cyst, your symptoms may return.

When does a ganglion cyst need surgery?

Your provider may consider surgery if other treatments don’t provide relief or your cyst comes back. Surgeons treat ganglia by removing the entire cyst. A cyst often includes a stalk-like structure (root) attached to the cyst.

Your surgeon may use open (traditional) techniques or arthroscopy (tiny incisions). In some cases, surgeons may take some tissue from the nearby joint to fully repair the issue.

Ganglion cyst removal surgery is called ganglionectomy. It’s usually an outpatient procedure. That means you should get to go home the day of surgery. Full recovery takes two to six weeks. Orthopaedic surgeons receive specialized training to perform intricate procedures on your body’s joints and other soft tissues.

Surgery may effectively resolve your symptoms. Having a bible cyst surgically removed greatly reduces the risk of a cyst coming back. Still, ganglia come back after surgery in an estimated 5% to 15% of cases.

What happens if a ganglion cyst is left untreated?

If a ganglion cyst doesn’t bother you, it might not need treatment. Sometimes, a ganglion cyst goes away on its own.

Your provider may recommend treatment if a ganglion cyst:

• Hurts, which may happen when a cyst presses against a nerve or joint tissues.
• Makes certain movements or tasks difficult, like walking or gripping a pencil.
• Makes you self-conscious about your appearance.

Can ganglion cysts be prevented?

You can’t prevent a ganglion cyst. Medical experts don’t know what causes them to develop.

Are ganglion cysts dangerous?

Ganglion cysts aren’t dangerous. They are benign masses, which means they won’t spread to other areas. Ganglion cysts aren’t cancer.

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with ganglion cysts?

While some ganglion cysts may be painful, they pose no serious threat to your health.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

If you have a ganglion cyst, you may want to ask your healthcare provider:

• Do I need treatment right now?
• Which treatment options do you recommend I try first, and why?
• What are the chances a cyst will come back after treatment?
• When would you consider surgery to treat bible cysts?
• What are the risks and benefits of ganglionectomy surgery?