Are ganglion cysts serious?

Ganglion cysts are typically of low severity and are classified as benign cysts.

Ganglion cysts are common soft tissue tumors that usually appear near joints of the wrist, fingers, or ankle, especially within the tendon sheaths between tendons and bones. They consist of a sac filled with clear, gelatinous fluid, typically formed due to the accumulation of synovial fluid within the tendon sheath. Ganglion cysts can be solitary or multiple, and vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters.

In terms of their nature, ganglion cysts are benign lesions that do not transform into malignancies, meaning they do not pose a direct threat to a patient's life. These cysts are usually painless unless they compress surrounding nerves or structures, causing pain, discomfort, or affecting the range of joint motion. Ganglion cysts may disappear spontaneously, persist, or recur.

Treatment options for ganglion cysts include observation, physical therapy, cyst aspiration, and surgical excision. Smaller cysts can be ruptured by manual compression or tapping, allowing the fluid to escape and the cyst to resolve. For cysts with thicker walls that are difficult to rupture, aspiration or surgical treatment may be selected.