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Mysterious Ganglion Cysts: Why Do They Always Appear Near Joints?
A ganglion cyst, a mysterious fluid-filled lump often associated with a joint or tendon sheath. They appear most commonly on the back of the wrist, followed by the front of the wrist. Although it seriously affects the daily lives of many people, the medical community has yet to determine its true cause.
The formation of ganglion cysts is generally believed to be caused by the bulging of the synovial membrane, which makes medical experts deeply interested in it.
Diagnosis of these masses is usually based on simple inspection and palpation. Doctors will focus on the size and appearance of the lump and may use tests to rule out other diagnoses. These masses are visually apparent, and sometimes radiolucent examination can help confirm their authenticity as ganglion cysts.
According to statistics, about three people per 10,000 people will develop ganglion cysts on the wrist or hand every year, and the average size of these cysts is about two centimeters. However, reports indicate that cysts larger than five centimeters were also removed, demonstrating their diversity and variability.
Overall, 50% to 70% of hand and wrist masses are ganglion cysts, demonstrating their prevalence.
Glion cysts are most common near the wrist joints, especially between the scaphoid and lunate bones. Other common cyst types include dorsal wrist ganglion cysts, volar wrist ganglion cysts, and cysts in the extensor retinaculum. Although they predominate in the tendon sheaths of the wrist, their presence has also been reported in the feet, knees, and even shoulders.
For example, in a study of Glasgow patients, 39 of the masses removed from 101 patients were ganglion cysts. The study also noted that no ganglion cysts were found on the soles of the feet or in the heels, giving surgeons more caution in their diagnosis.
Although the cause of ganglion cyst formation remains unclear, the most commonly accepted hypothesis is that it results from expansion of the joint capsule or tendon sheath. Many medical experts say that the structure of these cysts is similar to synovial tissue, and the fluid content in the mass is also similar to synovial fluid.
Some studies have shown that dye injected into the joint often transfers to the cyst, but dye injected into the cyst rarely returns to the joint, suggesting an effective one-way "check valve" between them.
In terms of treatment, many ganglion cysts do not require surgery and will usually disappear on their own to at least one-third within six years, and about half of the cysts will disappear on their own within ten years. If the cyst causes pain or interferes with daily life, the medical community may recommend needle aspiration to reduce the fluid or, if necessary, surgical removal.
Older methods of treatment were a bit eccentric, in which the cyst was hit with a heavy object such as a Bible in an attempt to rupture it, a practice that over time has been generally considered dangerous and should not be used.
Interestingly, many ganglion cysts have a recurrence rate of up to 39% even after treatment.
The treatment results of ganglion cysts are often not as good as expected. Some studies have found that whether it is surgical removal, aspiration or no treatment, patients have almost no significant improvement in symptoms during two to five years of follow-up. The causes and recurrence of these cysts still pose many challenges to the medical community.
Over the years, our understanding of ganglion cysts has evolved, but the medical community still has many unanswered questions about their causes, location, and treatment options. This makes people wonder, where is the secret of ganglion cysts hidden?
