Ganglion Cyst

Dilhan Abeyewardene, MD

Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon located in North Palm Beach, FL

If you have a lump on your hand that looks like it’s full of fluid, it could be a ganglion cyst. Although harmless, ganglion cysts can be unsightly or uncomfortable. has the answer if you want to get rid of your cyst. Dr. Dilhan is an orthopedic hand surgeon who has an answer if you want to get rid of your cyst. He specializes in treating hand and wrist conditions, including ganglion cysts. Find out about the effective treatment options available by calling the Orthopaedic Care Specialists’ office today and ask for an appointment with Dr. Dilhan, or book an appointment using the online tool.

561-840-1090

Ganglion Cyst Q & A

What is a ganglion cyst?

Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled lumps that form on your hands, most often the back near the wrist. They’re not cancerous and very rarely anything to worry about. They can, however, be painful, unsightly, and interfere with your ability to use your hand.

Ganglions grow out of the tissues in your joints. They have a stalk from which rises a balloon-like sac filled with a fluid similar to joint lubricating fluid.

Ganglion cysts come in a variety of sizes and tend to get bigger if you use your wrist a lot. Resting can decrease the size of a ganglion cyst.

What causes a ganglion cyst?

It’s not clear why some people develop a ganglion cyst. They’re most common in people between 15 and 40 years old, especially girls and women. They’re also more common in gymnasts, probably because of the repetitive stress gymnastics place on the wrists.

Another type of ganglion cyst is the mucous cyst, which develops on the end joints of your fingers. Mucous cysts tend to affect women between 40 and 70 who have arthritis in their fingers.

In many cases, ganglion cysts appear, change size, then disappear without needing any treatment. If you have an unsightly, painful ganglion cyst, Dr. Dilhan provides several effective treatments at Orthopaedic Care Specialists.

How is a ganglion cyst treated?

If your ganglion cyst isn’t causing any problems, Dr. Dilhan might recommend watching and waiting, as the cyst could well disappear on its own.

If you’re experiencing discomfort or dysfunction in your hand or wrist, or you’re concerned about the appearance of your ganglion cyst, other potential treatments include:

Immobilization

As wrist activity tends to make ganglion cysts larger, a brace or splint that immobilizes your wrist could help reduce cyst size. Immobilization also reduces pressure on the nerves that leads to pain.

As you become more comfortable, you can start doing the exercises Dr. Dilhan gives you. These help build up the strength in your wrist and improve your range of movement.

Aspiration

Dr. Dilhan can drain the fluid from painful ganglion cysts, in a procedure called an aspiration. After numbing the skin around the cyst, he punctures the cyst with a sharp needle and withdraws the fluid inside.

This process relieves the immediate pain, but won’t get rid of your ganglion cyst. As the root is still there in your hand, the cyst could regrow.

Surgical excision

If your cyst returns after aspiration or other treatments aren’t helping to relieve your symptoms, Dr. Dilhan can remove the ganglion and its root surgically.

If you have a ganglion cyst that’s causing unpleasant symptoms, call Dr. Dilhan’s office today, or book an appointment online.