Lumpiness known as ganglion cyst typically develops along the tendons or joints of the hands or wrists. They may also develop in the feet and ankles. Usually round or oval in shape, ganglion cysts contain a jelly-like fluid inside. They’re not cancerous.
Pea-sized ganglion cysts are possible. Their size is malleable. If a ganglion cyst presses against a nearby nerve, it may hurt. They can occasionally impair joint mobility.
A medical professional may choose to use a needle to drain a ganglion cyst if it presents issues. So could a surgical cyst removal. However, there is no need for treatment if there are no symptoms. The cysts frequently expand and contract. Some fade away by themselves.
Symptoms
These ganglion cyst characteristics are typical:
Where. Most frequently, ganglion cysts form along the tendons or joints in the hands or wrists. The feet and ankles are the next most typical places. These cysts also develop close to other joints.
Dimensions and form. Oval or round ganglion cysts are common. Some are just too tiny to sense. A cyst’s size is variable and frequently increases with time due to joint movement.
Anguish. In most cases, ganglion cysts are painless. However, pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the muscles may result from a cyst pressing on a nerve or other structures.
When to visit a physician
If you feel a lump or pain in your wrist, hand, ankle, or foot, consult a medical professional. It is possible to receive a diagnosis and determine if treatment is necessary.
Causes
The cause of a ganglion cyst is unknown. It resembles a tiny water balloon on a stalk and emerges from a tendon or joint. There is a viscous fluid, similar to that around tendons or in joints, inside the cyst.
Factors at risk
The following variables may raise the chance of ganglion cysts:
Age and sex. While ganglion cysts can develop in any age group, women between the ages of 20 and 40 are the most commonly affected.
Arthritis of the bones. A higher risk of developing ganglion cysts near the finger joints nearest to the fingernails is seen in people with wear-and-tear arthritis in those joints.
Injury to a tendon or joint. Ganglion cysts are more likely to form in injured joints or tendons.
Treatment
The majority of ganglion cysts disappear on their own. After treatment, some people might return, though. The cyst may not go away for a long time—up to 12 to 18 months. The physician or other health care provider might advise just waiting and observing if it’s not painful.
The doctor or other healthcare professional may suggest one of the following if your child’s ganglion cyst is giving them a lot of trouble:
Splinting: To prevent movement in the region containing the cyst, a brace is applied. This will lessen the annoyance that the joint’s movements cause. Your child might feel more at ease and the swelling might lessen as a result.
Aspiration: A needle is used to remove fluid from the ganglion cyst (Picture 2). After numbing the area, the physician will remove the cyst’s fluid with a needle. Since the cyst wasn’t completely removed, it might fill with fluid once more. The outpatient clinic is where this operation is performed.
It is not advised to aspirate volar wrist cysts. This region carries an excessive risk of blood vessel damage.
Surgical excision: Anaesthesia will be used to put your child to sleep. They won’t experience pain during the procedure thanks to this. A surgeon will remove the entire ganglion cyst by cutting it out. This also applies to the slender sleeve that covers the joint or tendon. Although the cyst’s likelihood of returning is significantly decreased by excision, it is still possible.
Following surgery, patients are in a splint for two weeks.
While surgery is a safe option, there are risks associated with it, including longer recovery times, pain, bleeding at the surgical site, infection, scarring, problems healing, and potential damage to nearby blood vessels, nerves, and tissues.
