A ganglion cyst is a fluid filled lesion that tends to be seen around joints and tendons in the body. It is especially common in the foot and ankle where it is commonly seen on the top of the foot and ankle. Although ganglion cysts are not cancerous, they can cause pain and discomfort in the affected areas.

Symptoms:

Although the wrist is the most common location in the body for ganglion cysts, they are also commonly seen in the lower extremities. Most people only notice a visible lump in the affected area. Commonly people describe it as a fluid filled sac underneath the skin. Pain is sometimes seen associated with ganglion cysts as well.

Diagnosis/Treatment

Many times a podiatrist can have a good idea that a soft tissue mass is a ganglion cyst just by evaluating the area. Sometimes a light is used to look at the area to see if there is trans-illumination around the cyst. Commonly your podiatrist will numb the area around the cyst and aspirate the fluid and send to the lab for evaluation. Ganglion cyst fluid tends to be yellow in color and thick. Once a diagnosis is made, steroid can be injected into the cyst to help reduce recurrence. Unfortunately, ganglion cysts have a high recurrence rate with just aspiration and injection of steroid into the area. Surgical intervention can also be completed to remove the cyst and its walls in their entirety which leads to a lower recurrence rate.

If you have any concerns about the above, make an appointment with the doctors at Quality Foot Care in Doylestown at 215-230-9707.