Ganglion cyst
Classification and external resources
Cyst on right wrist
ICD-10	M67.4
ICD-9	727.4
DiseasesDB	31229
eMedicine	orthoped/493
MeSH	D045888

A ganglion cyst (also known as a bible cyst) 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 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

[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.^[1] 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 20–40 age group and are three times more common in women.^[2]

[edit] Image gallery

[edit] See also

• Exostosis
• Osteoma
• Ganglion
• Carpometacarpal bossing

[edit] References

[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

v • d • e Soft tissue disorders / Rheumatism / Connective tissue arthropathy (M65-M79, 725-727) Capsular Synoviopathy Synovitis/Tenosynovitis (Calcific tendinitis, Stenosing tenosynovitis, Trigger finger, DeQuervain's syndrome) · Transient synovitis · Ganglion cyst osteochondromatosis (Synovial osteochondromatosis) · Plica syndrome villonodular synovitis (Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath) Bursopathy Bursitis (Olecranon, Prepatellar, Trochanteric, Subacromial) · Synovial cyst (Baker's cyst) Noncapsular Fasciopathy Fasciitis: Plantar · Nodular · Necrotizing · Eosinophilic Fibromatosis/contracture Dupuytren's contracture · Peyronie's disease · Plantar fibromatosis · Aggressive fibromatosis · Knuckle pads 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/general: Tendinitis · Tendinosis joint navs: anat, non-congenital arthropathies/deformities/dorsopathies/soft tissue arthropathy/congenital, eponymous signs, proc muscle, DF+DRCT navs: anat/hist/physio, acquired myopathy/congenital myopathy/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc