What are Ganglion Cysts?
Ganglion cysts are common lumps or masses in the hand that are generally not cancerous and are not harmful. They occur in several parts of the hand, but mostly develop on the back of the wrist. These fluid-filled cysts may change in size, appear, and disappear rapidly. Many of these lumps do not require drastic action; however, if they are painful, unsightly, or interfere with function, several treatments can help.
These lumps develop from a joint and grow out of the tissues near it, such as ligaments, joint lining, and tendon sheaths. Inside them is a dense, slippery fluid, just like the liquid that lubricates your joints. Ganglion cysts may crop up in a number of joints in the hand and wrist, such as the top and bottom of the wrist, the end joint of a finger, and at the finger’s base. These lumps vary in size and generally become larger as wrist activity increases. Resting can help decrease the size of the lumps in some cases.