Ganglion Cysts

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Ganglion cysts are also fluid-filled sacs, which manifest as smooth, soft lumps under the skin. Ganglion cysts occur when your natural lubricating fluid (known as synovial fluid) seeps out and collects in a small sac. This can happen in any joint in your body: the back of your knee, your ankle, your foot, your palm or your fingers. Nevertheless, a Ganglion cyst most commonly appears near the wrist. Unlike Sebaceous cysts, the precise reason why Ganglion cysts develop cannot be given, although stress on joints and tendons, or even a minor injury to the area are thought to be common reasons. Despite this, most ganglion cysts do not arise from injuries of any description.

Necessity of treatment

Ganglion cysts do not always require treatment; quite often they simply disappear as quickly as they surfaced. However, in some cases surgery can be performed, especially if the cyst persistently remains in spite of regular non-surgical treatment.

Treatment

If your ganglion cyst makes it awkward for you to move, or is painful, your doctor can have the cyst drained to lessen the swelling. This method, known as aspiration, involves a needle used to pierce a hole in the cyst, and then a syringe will be used to extract the fluid away. While this will lessen the swelling it is possible that your cyst may return. As a consequence, you can opt for a dose of steroids to be injected to reduce the chance of the ganglion cyst re-emerging.

Surgery

Surgery for a ganglion cyst is considered a last resort, in case other methods fail to remedy your cyst satisfactorily. If you opt for surgery on your ganglion cyst, you will undergo the operation under local or regional anaesthesia, depending on how relaxed or anxious you feel leading up towards the operation. The operation will basically involve your surgeon cutting your skin over the cyst in order to take it away from your joint, or your tendon lining. After this, the surgeon will seal the cut with stitches. A dressing then should cover the area. It should be noted that ganglion cysts are more likely to recur through the aspiration method than by removal.

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