Ganglion Cyst: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and how to Treat it

What is a Ganglion Cyst?

A ganglion cyst is a small sac of fluid that forms over a joint or on the tissue that connects muscle to bone. Inside the cyst is a thick, sticky, clear, colorless, jellylike material. Depending on the size, cysts may feel firm or spongy.

Ganglion cysts can be as large as an inch across. Some cysts are visible underneath the skin, but others are so small that you can’t see them. They’re common and usually harmless. They aren’t cancerous.

What are the causes of Ganglion Cyst?

A ganglion cyst starts when the fluid leaks out of a joint or tendon tunnel and forms a swelling beneath the skin.

The cause of the leak is generally unknown, but may be due to trauma or underlying arthritis.

What are the Symptoms of Ganglion Cyst?

A ganglion cyst always forms near a joint. They may be soft or hard, and they should be able to move freely under the skin.

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.

Where do Ganglion Cyst appear?

Ganglion cysts usually appear at specific joints. Using the joint near the cyst may increase swelling and worsen any discomfort you feel.

It can develop on the:

• Hand
• Wrist
• Foot
• Ankle

How is Ganglion Cyst diagnosed?

Doctors usually diagnose this cyst by physically examining you. A lump’s appearance and location are telltale signs of ganglion. Your doctor 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.

In some cases, your examiner may remove a sample from inside the lump for further analysis. Ganglion usually contain a jellylike fluid, not solid tissue. In rare cases, your doctor may recommend an X-ray to learn more about what’s causing your symptoms.

Your doctor may use ultrasound to tell the difference between a solid mass and a cyst. There is also a difference between a ganglion cyst and a synovial cell. The difference is in the make-up of the lining of the cyst.

but a ganglion cyst diagnosis may be confirmed by aspiration, a process in which your doctor uses a needle and syringe to draw out (aspirate) the fluid in the cyst. Fluid from a ganglion cyst will be thick and clear or translucent.

What are the Treatments of Ganglion Cyst?

Ganglion cysts are often painless, requiring no treatment. but if your cyst causes pain so your doctor can recommend you:

• Immobilization: Because activity can cause the ganglion cyst to get larger, it may help to temporarily immobilize the area with a brace or splint. As the cyst shrinks, it may release the pressure on your nerves, relieving pain. Avoid long-term use of a brace or splint, which can cause the nearby muscles to weaken.

• Aspiration: If a ganglion cyst causes a great deal of pain or severely limits your day-to-day activities, your doctor may drain fluid from the cyst using a procedure called aspiration. In this procedure, the surrounding area is numbed with a local anesthetic, and the cyst is punctured with a needle, so that fluid can be drained.

• Sclerotherapy: has been proposed to treat ganglion. Sclerosant was injected into ganglion sac to damage the intimal lining and cause fibrosis to reduce the recurrence rate. Initial study showed high successful rate ranging 78–100%.

• Threat technique: Gang and Makhlouf introduce the thread technique, by which two sutures were passed through the ganglion at right angles to each other, and each was tied in a loop. The contents of ganglion were expelled by massage at interval. They reported a recurrence rate of 4.8%. However, 11% of the patients had positive culture swabs

When you have to go for a Surgery?

Surgery to remove a ganglion cyst is called ganglionectomy. It is usually an outpatient procedure. That means you should get to go home the day of surgery. Full recovery takes two to six weeks.

Surgery may effectively resolve your symptoms. Having a ganglion 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 are the home remedies for ganglion cyst?

Firstly here are the things which you have to avoid:

• Don’t try to pop the cyst yourself by puncturing it with a needle or cutting into it with a sharp tool.

• Don’t strike your cyst with a heavy object. An old folk remedy for a ganglion cyst included thumping the cyst with a heavy object such as a book.

following home treatment options:

• Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen can relieve pain. 

• Regular use of warm compresses may increase blood circulation and promote fluid drainage. Warm compresses, however, will not prevent cyst growth.

• Avoiding repetitive wrist and hand movements can relieve discomfort.

• If you have ganglion cysts on your feet or ankles, you might consider wearing loose shoes or modifying the way you lace them. Ideally, your shoe should not touch your cyst.