A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled sac that grows out of a joint capsule or tendon sheath, most often on the back of the wrist. Ganglions are the most common lump in the hand and wrist, and they are benign.
Warning signs
- A smooth, round bump on the back or palm side of the wrist, or at the base of a finger
- Soft and usually painless, though it can ache with gripping or pushing up from a chair
- Changes size, sometimes shrinking and returning
- Tingling or weakness if it presses on a nerve
Treatment
A ganglion that does not bother you can simply be watched. If it hurts, limits motion, or keeps returning, options include needle aspiration in the office or outpatient surgical excision, which removes the cyst together with its stalk. Any lump that grows quickly, is hard and fixed, hurts at rest, or breaks the skin should be evaluated promptly to rule out something other than a ganglion.
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Questions patients ask
What is ganglion cyst?
A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled sac that grows out of a joint capsule or tendon sheath, most often on the back of the wrist. Ganglions are the most common lump in the hand and wrist, and they are benign.
What are the warning signs of ganglion cyst?
A smooth, round bump on the back or palm side of the wrist, or at the base of a finger. Soft and usually painless, though it can ache with gripping or pushing up from a chair. Changes size, sometimes shrinking and returning. Tingling or weakness if it presses on a nerve.
How is ganglion cyst treated?
A ganglion that does not bother you can simply be watched. If it hurts, limits motion, or keeps returning, options include needle aspiration in the office or outpatient surgical excision, which removes the cyst together with its stalk. Any lump that grows quickly, is hard and fixed, hurts at rest, or breaks the skin should be evaluated promptly to rule out something other than a ganglion.
Who treats ganglion cyst near Southlake and Dallas-Fort Worth?
Dr. Pedro Loredo, a board-certified hand surgeon (General Surgery, American Board of Surgery; Hand Surgery, American Board of Plastic Surgery) at Loredo Hand Care Institute, 431 E State Hwy 114, Suite 380, Southlake, TX. New patients are seen within days. Call (972) 939-4974. Se habla español.
En español: ¿Una bolita en la muñeca que aparece y desaparece?
Un quiste ganglionar es una bolsa llena de líquido que nace de la cápsula de una articulación o de la vaina de un tendón, casi siempre en el dorso de la muñeca. Es el bulto más común de la mano y la muñeca, y es benigno.
Señales de alerta
- Una bolita lisa y redonda en el dorso o la palma de la muñeca, o en la base de un dedo
- Blanda y casi siempre indolora, aunque puede doler al agarrar o al apoyarse para levantarse de una silla
- Cambia de tamaño; a veces se encoge y vuelve
- Hormigueo o debilidad si presiona un nervio
Tratamiento
Un ganglión que no molesta simplemente se vigila. Si duele, limita el movimiento o sigue volviendo, las opciones son la aspiración con aguja en el consultorio o la extirpación quirúrgica ambulatoria, que retira el quiste junto con su tallo. Cualquier bulto que crezca rápido, esté duro y fijo, duela en reposo o rompa la piel debe evaluarse pronto para descartar algo distinto a un ganglión.
If this sounds like your hand
Call Loredo Hand Care Institute or start your forms online. New patients are seen within days; surgery, when needed, is scheduled at the first available opening. Se habla español.