Ganglion cysts arise from the wrist joint or tendon sheaths. It can occur in different parts of the wrist. It can be on the back of the wrist or on the palm side. Sometimes it occurs on the fingers.
Ganglion Cyst Causes
The ganglion cyst contains a fluid that resembles the white of an egg. There is no complete information about why it occurs. It is more common in women. Since there is a lot of load on the wrist, the incidence is higher in those who do gymnastics than in the general population.
Clinical Complaints and Diagnosis
Due to the fact that they are space-occupying masses, they are similar to nerves and tendons. They can be painful by putting pressure on neighboring tissues. Interestingly, large ganglia are usually not painful, whereas small ganglia, which are called hidden ganglia, can get between the joints of the wrist and be painful. They can shrink and grow, sometimes green lentils, sometimes chickpeas, sometimes larger. It generally tends to be large in the active hand, and may shrink with rest.
At the point of diagnosis, the physician examines the hand manually. Transparency is evaluated with the light source. In terms of differential diagnosis, x-rays are taken to rule out bone tumors. MRI and Ultrasound may be requested to evaluate the exact structure of the cyst.
Ganglion Cyst Symptoms
These fluid-filled cysts are located on the wrist. If it puts pressure on the nerves, it causes pain. Sometimes they grow too large and distort the appearance of the wrist. Ganglia originate from the joint and maintain connections to a stem joint. They come from between bones and muscles to under the skin. As the wrist becomes more active, the cyst becomes larger. Rest shrinks the cyst. Diagnosis The doctor asks the patient how long the ganglion has existed, whether its size has changed and whether it causes pain. He presses on the ganglion to see if it is sensitive. Sometimes it may be necessary to have an MRI and ultrasound.
Ganglion Cyst Treatment
Initially, the treatment is performed without surgery. Since the ganglion does not turn into cancer and may disappear on its own over time, no action is taken. The patient is called for check-ups at regular intervals in case of unexpected developments. Even the hand is injured because activity enlarges the cyst. He is taken to rest. For this, the wrist can be immobilized with a splint. After the cyst shrinks, the patient is treated by exercising. If the cyst grows too large and causes pain, it can be drained with the help of a syringe. This may require local anesthesia first. If these methods are not successful and the cyst grows, it can be removed with surgery, but there is no guarantee that it will not recur. Intervention in the joint capsule or tendon sheath may also be required to prevent recurrence. The wrist becomes normal 2-6 weeks after the surgery.
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