A ganglion cyst is a swollen, closed sac under the skin. The sac is attached to the sheath of a tendon or may be attached to a joint. The cyst contains fluid similar to the fluid that is in your joints. It can vary in size from a small pea to a golf ball. Ganglion cysts most often occur on the wrist, at the end joint of a finger, or at the base of a finger. They may also occur on the foot.
The cause of ganglion cysts is not known.
You may feel discomfort or pain. Sometimes the area of the cyst becomes swollen or disfigured.
If there is any question about the diagnosis, your healthcare provider may stick a needle into the cyst to take a sample of the fluid inside it. The fluid can be tested for other problems, such as infection.
Unless a cyst hurts, it does not need to be treated. If it does hurt, put an ice pack, gel pack, or package of frozen vegetables, wrapped in a cloth, on the area for up to 20 minutes at a time every 3 to 4 hours, or at least once daily, until it becomes less painful. Taking an anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, may also help. Check with your healthcare provider before you give any medicine that contains aspirin or salicylates to a child or teen. This includes medicines like baby aspirin, some cold medicines, and Pepto-Bismol. Children and teens who take aspirin are at risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, do not take for more than 10 days for any reason.
The fluid can be removed with a needle, but the cysts tend to fill up again with fluid.
Do not try to smash the cyst with a heavy object. Even if this home remedy succeeds at first, the cyst will almost always fill up again with fluid. In addition, you could seriously damage your wrist or finger.
If a ganglion cyst is painful, limits activity, or is unsightly, it can be surgically removed. Surgery to remove the cyst requires making a small cut through the skin. The cut usually heals quickly and leaves a small scar.
Sometimes cysts eventually go away whether they are treated or not. If your cyst is painful or interferes with your activities, you may need to have surgery. Even with surgical treatment, a cyst may come back.
Follow the treatment recommended by your healthcare provider.
There is no known way to prevent these cysts because their cause is not known.
