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Wrist Ganglion Cyst

What is a wrist ganglion cyst?

By Jonathan Cluett, M.D., About.com Guide

Updated February 12, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

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A wrist ganglion cyst is a swelling that usually occurs over the back of the hand or wrist. These

are benign, fluid-filled capsules. Ganglion cysts are not cancerous, will not spread, and while

they may grow in size, they will not spread to other parts of your body.

Where did the wrist ganglion cyst come from?

Ganglion cysts arise as outpouchings from fluid filled areas such as the fluid within the small

joints of the wrist, or fluid within the sheath that surrounds the wrist tendons. When the fluid,

called synovial fluid, leaks out from these spaces, it can become a cystic structure.

What is the fluid within the wrist ganglion cyst?

The fluid is identical to the normal fluid found within a joint or within a tendon sheath. The fluid

can become gelatinous over time.

Is there anything else this lump could be?

Yes, and it is important to have this type of lump checked by your doctor to ensure it is simply aganglion cyst. While most lumps around the wrist and hand are ganglion cysts (by far the most

common), there are other conditions that have different treatments. Other type of tumors such as

a lipoma or giant cell tumor, infections, carpal bossing (bone spur), and other conditions cancause lumps around the wrist.

Will the ganglion cyst go away?

Sometimes, wrist ganglion cysts go away with no treatment, most of the time they linger around

or even grow larger. Some cysts form a type of one-way valve such that fluid enters the cysteasily, but cannot escape. When the ganglion cyst becomes large enough, it will begin to put

pressure on surrounding structures. This pressure can cause painful symptoms, and is usually the

reason these ganglion cysts are removed.

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How can a wrist ganglion cyst be removed?

There are several methods of treatment that are possible. Putting a needle into the ganglion cyst

and aspirating the fluid may work. However, the gelatinous fluid within the cyst does not alwayscome through a needle very well. Furthermore, this treatment leaves the cyst lining behind, and

the ganglion cyst will return about 50% of the time.

Another alternative, that some call traditional, others call a bit barbaric, is to smash the wrist

ganglion cyst with a hard object such as a book. This pops the cyst, and ruptures the lining of thecyst. Because the lining is disrupted, the smashed ganglion cyst may not return quite as often as

those drained by a needle. However, many patients are uncomfortable with their doctor

'whacking' a book against their wrist...

The definitive treatment is to remove the ganglion cyst with a surgical procedure. In surgery, the

wrist ganglion is "shelled out," meaning the fluid and the sac are removed. In addition, the

connection to the joint or tendon sheath that supplied the fluid can be occluded. While this

usually is effective, a small percentage of removed wrist ganglion will still return.

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