Ganglion cysts are smooth, soft, benign masses that are usually located on the wrist (dorsal or volar aspect) with one or more communicating stalks into the wrist joint or surrounding structures. They can be single or multi-loculated and are filled with viscous, sticky, mucinous fluid (synovium).

Pathophysiology:

• Originate from tendon sheaths or joints, thought to occur when synovial membrane of tendon sheath or joint herniates - forms a pouch
• Synovial fluid flows from the tendon sheath or joint into the pouch, forming a cyst

Risk factors:

• Female sex
• Age 10 to 30
• trauma
• scapholunate instability

PC

• Subcutaneous, smooth, mobile wrist mass (1-4cm diameter usually)
• wrist pain - compression of surrounding structures
• non-tender mass
• increased mass size after activity
• trans-illuminating mass
• Neurovascular involvement
• Unable to recall onset