Ganglion Cysts: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Treatment

Ganglion cysts are lumps that usually appear along the tendons or wrists of the affected hand or wrist. They may also form in the ankles and feet. Ganglion cysts are typically spherical or oval in appearance and contain a jelly-like fluid within. They do not cause cancer.

Ganglion cysts can appear as the size of peas. They can change size. A ganglion cyst may compress an adjacent nerve, which may cause pain. They may occasionally damage joint motion.

If a ganglion cyst starts to cause problems, a doctor might decide to drain the cyst with a needle. Similarly, surgical cyst excision can be a possibility. If there are no symptoms, then treatment is not required. Cysts often expand, and then contract. Some disappear on their own.

Causes Of Ganglion cysts

A ganglion cyst's cause is uncertain. It comes out of a tendon or joint and looks like a small water balloon on a stalk. Inside the cyst is a viscous fluid, similar to fluid around tendons or in joints.

Symptoms Of Ganglion cysts

Typical features of ganglion cysts include:

• Location: The tendons or joints in the hands or wrists are the most common places where ganglion cysts develop. The next most commonly found areas are the feet and ankles. Most frequently, these cysts form adjacent to other joints.
• Size and shape: Ganglion cysts are often spherical or oval. Simply put, some are too small to feel. As a result of joint motion, a cyst's size can vary and often grows over time.
• Pain: Ganglion cysts usually don't hurt. Nevertheless, a cyst pressing on a nerve or other tissues may cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the muscles.

Also read: Testicular Torsion: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Complications

Risk Factors Of Ganglion cysts

The likelihood of ganglion cysts may be increased by the following factors:

• Sex and age: Although ganglion cysts can develop in any age range, they most frequently afflict women in the 20–40 age range.
• Bone arthritis: People with wear-and-tear arthritis in the finger joints closest to the fingernails have an increased chance of developing ganglion cysts in those areas.
• Damage to a joint or tendon: Injuries to tendons or joints increase the risk of ganglion cyst formation.

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Diagnosis Of Ganglion cysts

During a physical examination, a doctor may apply pressure to the cyst to see if it hurts. It may be possible to determine whether a cyst is solid or fluid-filled by shining a light through it.

Imaging tests, such as an MRI, ultrasound, or X-ray, can help confirm the diagnosis and also rule out other conditions including arthritis or tumors.

A cyst punctured with a needle may release fluid that supports the diagnosis. The fluid from a ganglion cyst is translucent and thick.

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Treatment Of Ganglion cysts

Ganglion cysts are typically painless and don't need to be treated. Your doctor may advise you to keep an eye out for any changes to the cyst. If the cyst impairs joint motion or causes pain, you may need to:

• Avoid the joint motion: A ganglion cyst brought on by activity could get enlarged. Thus, temporarily immobilizing the joint with a brace or splint may be advantageous. When a cyst shrinks, pressure on surrounding nerves is released, which may cause pain to lessen. However, wearing a brace or splint all the time could weaken the surrounding muscles.
• Drain the cyst: The fluid inside the cyst may be removed with a needle. The cyst may, however, reappear.
• Surgery: If other methods don't work, this might be a possibility. During surgery, the cyst and the stalk that attaches it to the tendon or joint are removed. The surrounding tendons, blood vessels, and nerves are rarely damaged during surgery. Moreover, the cyst could return even after surgery.

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