Ganglion (GANG-lee-on) cysts are the most common type of soft
tissue mass that form under your skin. Most commonly, ganglions
are seen on the backside of the wrist and fingers, but they can
also develop on your shoulder, elbow, and knee. Ganglions form
when tissues surrounding certain joints become inflamed and
swell up with lubricating fluid. In some cases, cysts can
increase in size when the tissue is irritated and often can
disappear spontaneously. Although these masses, which can be
painful or painless, sometimes grow, they're not tumors or
cancerous. The cause of ganglions is not always clear, however,
conditions such as rheumatoid (rue-MAH-toyd) arthritis (arth-
RYE-tis) have been associated with these cysts. Occupational
factors can also play a role in the development of ganglions.
Those occupations that require you to overuse certain joints,
such as your wrist and fingers, pose a risk for developing
ganglion cysts. A physician recognizes most ganglion cysts
during physical examinations, but sometimes X