Quick Facts: Ganglia - Merck Manuals Consumer Version

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What are the symptoms of ganglia?

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Ganglia

In aortic aneurysms, the pressure of blood inside the artery forces a weak area in the artery’s wall to balloon outward. In which of the following areas do three-quarters of aortic aneurysms occur?

Areas in certain arteries that are stressed (eg, the popliteal artery located in the knee and back of the leg)
Areas where arteries branch
The part of the aorta that passes through the abdomen (abdominal aorta)
The part of the aorta that passes through the chest (thoracic aorta)

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Last full review/revision Oct 2019| Content last modified Oct 2019

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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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