Ganglion cyst

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Ganglion cyst

Classification and external resources

Cyst on right wrist

ICD-10 M67.4

ICD-9 727.4

DiseasesDB 31229

eMedicine orthoped/493

A ganglion cyst (also known as a bible bump) is a swelling that often appears on or around
joints and tendons in the hand or foot. The size of the cyst can vary over time. It is most
frequently located around the wrist and on the fingers. The term "Bible Bump" comes from a
common urban legend that treatment by pounding on the cyst with a Bible or another large book
occurred in the past.[1]

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Cause
• 2 Treatment
• 3 Epidemiology
• 4 Image gallery
• 5 See also
 • 6 References

• 7 External links

[edit] Cause
Ganglion cysts are idiopathic, but presumably reflect a variation in normal joint or tendon sheath
function. Cysts near joints are connected to the joint and the leading theory is that a type of
check valve forms that allows fluid out of the joint, but not back in. The cyst contains clear fluid
similar to, but thicker than normal synovial fluid. They are most often found around the wrist
joint, especially at the scapho-lunate joint, which accounts for 80% of all ganglion cysts.

As with many other hand conditions, some speculate that arm use can increase the risk of
ganglion formation [2] but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, and it may unfairly
stigmatize arm use.

[edit] Treatment
If a ganglion cyst is symptomatic, it can be managed by aspiration or excision. Aspiration of the
cyst is the simpler of the two procedures, but cysts recur in more than 50% of cases. With
surgery, the recurrence rate is reduced to only 5 to 10% if the check valve at the joint capsule is
removed.

- Arthroscopy of the wrist is becoming available as an alternative to open excision of ganglion

cysts. During arthroscopy, the origin of the cyst can be seen within the joint.

- An urban legend states that the traditional method of treating a ganglion cyst was to strike the
lump with a large, heavy book, causing the cyst to rupture and drain into the surrounding
tissues.[3] Since even the poorest households often possessed a Bible (referring to the large family
Bibles), this was commonly used, which led to the nicknaming of ganglion cysts as "Bible
Bumps" or "Gideon's Disease."

[edit] Epidemiology
The epidemiology is not well studied, but some have stated that they occur most often in the 20–
60 age group and are three times more common in women.[4]

[edit] Image gallery

[edit] See also
• Ganglion
• Carpometacarpal bossing

[edit] References
1. ^ http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/hw013.htm
2. ^ Browse NL (1997) Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Disease. 3rd ed. London: Arnold.
3. ^ http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/hw013.htm
4. ^ eMedicine - Ganglion Cyst : Article by George J Kouris

[edit] External links

• Ganglions (cysts) of the wrist - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• A Patient's Guide to Ganglions of the Wrist
• Ganglion cyst - Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
• Ganglion cyst - eMedicine.com
• Ganglion Cyst - medscape.com
 [hide]
v•d•e
Soft tissue disorders (M65-M79, 725-727)

Connective tissue,
articular (arthropathy)
Tendinopathy
Enthesopathy
Enthesitis:
upper limb
(Adhesive
capsulitis of
shoulder,
Rotator cuff
tear, Golfer's
elbow, Tennis
elbow) · lower
limb (Iliotibial
band
syndrome,
Patellar
tendinitis,
Achilles
tendinitis,
Calcaneal
spur,
Metatarsalgia)
· Bone spur

Other/genera
l
Tendinitis ·
Tendinosis
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganglion_cyst"
Categories: Musculoskeletal disorders