Excision of Ganglions: what should you know?

A ganglion is a cyst/lump that contains fluid and grows under the skin. Generally, this cyst/lump is grown or formed near the wrist and/or found in the ankle and foot.

A ganglion cyst is very common and harmless. This cyst filled with fluid keeps changing its size and quickly appears and disappears. Many ganglion cyst/lump does not require any kind of treatment, as they themselves may disappear. But, if the cyst is painful and doesn’t let you function normally or appears large needs to be treated. This cyst can be treated with medication (non-surgical) or through a small surgery (surgical treatment).

Factors of a ganglion cyst:

  • Ganglion cysts are non-cancerous.
  • Most ganglion cysts disappear without intervention.
  • The fluid within the cysts is similar to that contained within synovial joints.
  • Surgical removal of the cysts prevents their returning.
  • It mostly occurs around the wrist joints and can also be found in the foot.

To whom and why does this ganglion cyst occur?

Ganglion cysts are mostly found in people aged between 15 to 40 years and are more often found in women than men.
The exact cause for the development of this ganglion cyst is still not known, but the study says that they may develop when connective tissue breaks down. Areas injured in the past are more likely to have this ganglion cyst and people with wear and tear arthritis or people who use joints vigorously are prone to develop this type of cyst.

Diagnosis of a ganglion cyst:

An x-ray, ultrasound or MRI are the common methods to diagnose a ganglion cyst and their exact development. The doctor or a surgeon will usually shine a light through the cyst to see whether the ganglion cyst contents are transparent or opaque.