Ganglion Cysts
Foot & Ankle Care of Colorado
A ganglion cyst is a sac filled with a jellylike fluid that originates from a tendon sheath or joint capsule. The term “ganglion” means knot, describing the knot-like mass or lump that forms below the skin’s surface.
Ganglion cysts are among the most common benign soft-tissue masses. While they most often occur on the wrist, they frequently develop on the foot as well, typically on the top but also in other areas. Ganglion cysts can vary in size, sometimes shrinking, enlarging, or even disappearing completely before returning. Several treatment options are available for foot ganglion cysts.
Causes of Ganglion Cysts
The exact causes of ganglion cysts are not fully understood.
Ganglion Cyst Symptoms
A ganglion cyst is associated with one or more of the following symptoms:
- A noticeable lump—often this is the only symptom experienced
- Tingling or burning, if the cyst is touching a nerve
- Dull pain or ache, which may indicate the cyst is pressing against a tendon or joint
- Difficulty wearing shoes due to irritation between the lump and the shoe
Ganglion Cyst Diagnoses
To diagnose a ganglion cyst, the foot and ankle surgeon will perform a thorough examination of the foot. The lump will be visually apparent, and, when pressed in a certain way, it should move freely underneath the skin. Sometimes the surgeon will shine a light through the cyst or remove a small amount of fluid from the cyst for evaluation. Your doctor may take an x-ray, and in some cases, additional imaging studies may be ordered.
Nonsurgical Treatments
There are various options for treating a ganglion cyst on the foot:
- Monitoring but no treatment. If the cyst causes no pain and does not interfere with walking, the surgeon may decide it is best to carefully watch the cyst over a period of time.
- Shoe modifications. Wearing shoes that do not rub the cyst or cause irritation may be advised. In addition, placing a pad inside the shoe may help reduce pressure against the cyst.
- Aspiration and injection. This technique involves draining the fluid and then injecting a steroid medication into the mass. More than one session may be needed. Although this approach is successful in some cases, in many others, the cyst returns.
When Is Surgery Needed?
When other treatment options fail or are not appropriate, the cyst may need to be surgically removed. While the recurrence rate associated with surgery is much lower than that experienced with aspiration and injection therapy, there are nevertheless cases in which the ganglion cyst returns.
