Ganglion Cysts

A ganglion cyst is a fluid filled sac that usually forms on the joints of your hands and wrists. Ganglion cysts are common. They may cause pain and discomfort in the hand and affect its usage. Ganglion cysts are not cancerous. The lubricating fluid in the joints or around the tendons can accumulate and form ganglion cysts. Trauma and repetitive hand movements may also contribute to the formation of ganglion cysts. Doctors use physical exams, x-rays and MRI's to help diagnose ganglion cysts. Treatment options for ganglion cyst include immobilization, a wrist brace, aspiration of the cysts and surgery to remove the cysts.

Introduction

A ganglion cyst is a fluid filled sac that usually forms on the joints of your hands and wrists. Ganglion cysts are common. They may cause pain and discomfort in the hand and affect its usage. Ganglion cysts are not cancerous. This program will help you understand ganglion cysts, their symptoms and causes, how they are diagnosed, and the treatment options available.

Anatomy of the Hand

The hand consists of many bones. The bones are separated by special hinges called joints. Muscles make the bones move on their joints. These joints contain fluid that lubricates them, allowing for smooth motion. You can grip objects with your hand because of muscles located in the forearm. Each muscle is formed of 2 parts. The fleshy part of the muscle contracts and is the part that creates the movement of the bones. The tendon part of the muscle extends into the hand and attaches to the fingers. The muscles are attached to the bones of the forearms at the fleshy part. The muscles taper down and become tendons through the wrist and into the fingers, where they attach to the bones of the fingers. When the fleshy part of the muscle contracts, the tendon is pulled down toward the forearm like a cable and the fingers bend. Some of the tendons are covered by a special tube containing lubricating fluid. This allows smooth and painless movement. The tendons and their covering tubes are held in place by a specialized covering called a sheath.

Symptoms and Their Causes

The lubricating fluid in the joints or around the tendons can accumulate and form ganglion cysts. Some of these cysts occur after some kind of trauma or accident. However, there is no known reason for the majority of these cysts. Repeated usage of the hand could predispose to the formation of ganglion cysts. They tend to be more common in women. These cysts could increase and decrease in size and may go away on their own. They never become cancers.

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask you about how long you have had this lump, whether it is painful and whether it has changed in size.
He or she will then feel it and see if it is attached to a joint X-rays of the hand and possibly an MRI of the hand may be done.
Some of these ganglions can be very painful and may actually not be apparent to the outside. In such cases an MRI can be very important in making the diagnosis.

Treatment Options

Avoiding repetitive movement may help with the symptoms.

A wrist brace may be used to decrease the size of the ganglion. Fluid may be removed from the cyst with a syringe. This is called ‘aspirating.’ Ganglion cysts can also be removed through surgery. Surgery to remove a ganglion cysts is done through a skin incision and is usually an outpatient procedure.

Summary

The lubricating fluid in the joints or around the tendons can accumulate and form ganglion cysts. It causes pain and discomfort in the hand and affects its usage. Treatment options may include immobilization, a wrist brace, aspiration, or surgery.