This photo shows a ganglion cyst on the wrist.

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What is ganglia?

What causes ganglia?

What are the symptoms of ganglia?

How can doctors tell if I have ganglia?

How do doctors treat ganglia?

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Ganglia

Both cancerous and noncancerous tumors of the bile duct or gallbladder are rare. When cancerous, these tumors are almost always fatal. The exception is a cancerous tumor of the gallbladder that is discovered accidentally, such as during gallstone removal surgery. If discovered in this way, the tumor may have been caught early enough to be removed completely, possibly producing a cure. When cancer of the gallbladder is diagnosed, there is almost always a co-existing medical condition found at the same time. Which of the following is the most likely associated medical condition?

Pancreatic cancer
Cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver
Diabetes
Gallstones

Ganglia

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The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Aug 2021| Content last modified Aug 2021

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Ganglion Cyst

Ganglia (also called ganglion cysts) are lumps that form on hands and wrists. Ganglia are usually found over a joint. They are filled with jellylike fluid and aren't cancerous.

Doctors don't know why ganglia form. They may be related to a prior injury. Sometimes, ganglia on the back of a finger is related to arthritis in the finger joint.

The only symptom of ganglia is the lump on your wrist or hand. The lump is:

Firm, smooth, and round or oval
Filled with clear, jellylike sticky fluid
Usually painless, but some people have mild discomfort

Ganglia may:

Change size
Form slowly over time or show up suddenly
Go away without treatment and come back at another time

Doctors can diagnose ganglia by examining your hand.

Most ganglia go away on their own without treatment.

If ganglia are painful or keep growing, doctors can remove the fluid inside it with a needle (called aspiration). Sometimes, doctors inject a medicine (called a corticosteroid suspension) into ganglia to help lessen the pain.

Sometimes, doctors need to remove ganglia surgically. In some cases, ganglia come back after being removed.

Some people believe ganglia can be removed by hitting them with a hard object, such as a book. You shouldn't do this, because you could injure your hand.

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Both cancerous and noncancerous tumors of the bile duct or gallbladder are rare. When cancerous, these tumors are almost always fatal. The exception is a cancerous tumor of the gallbladder that is discovered accidentally, such as during gallstone removal surgery. If discovered in this way, the tumor may have been caught early enough to be removed completely, possibly producing a cure. When cancer of the gallbladder is diagnosed, there is almost always a co-existing medical condition found at the same time. Which of the following is the most likely associated medical condition?

Pancreatic cancer
Cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver
Diabetes
Gallstones

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