Ganglion Cyst

What is a ganglion?

Also known as a bible bump, a ganglion is a benign (non cancerous) cyst. It made up of a thick, jelly like fluid. They cysts can occur on any joint, but they are most commonly found on the back of the wrist. It is the result of a leakage of fluid from the adjacent joint, although it is not known what causes this to occur.

Women between the ages of 20-40 are most commonly affected although anybody can develop a ganglion cyst.

Ganglion symptoms:

Symptoms of ganglion cysts include;

• Localised swelling on the joint (most commonly the wrist). They range in size from the size of a pea to quite large.

• They are usually not painful unless they are  pressing on a nearby nerve.

Ganglion treatment:

If the ganglion cyst isn't causing discomfort then no treatment is necessary. Many will go away on their own. Treatment may be necessary if the ganglion cyst is causing pain. This may include;

• Over the counter pain medication to relieve discomfort.

• Aspiration. Draining the fluid with a needle under local anesthetic.  This can be difficult due to the thickness of the liquid. It is not always successful and in a lot of cases the ganglion cyst will return.

• Surgical removal of the cyst under local or general anesthetic.

An old fashioned remedy for ganglions was to hit it hard with a bible. The theory being that a heavy book will rupture the cyst. This method is definitely NOT recommended as it can lead to wrist damage.

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a doctor & should not be considered a replacement for a doctor visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate medical advice for any problems.

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.