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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your doctor suspects a ganglion cyst, these are some tests he or she may perform:
- Physical exam. Your doctor may apply pressure to the cyst to test for tenderness or discomfort.
- X-ray. Your doctor may also recommend an X-ray of the affected area to rule out other conditions, such as arthritis or a tumor.
- Aspiration. A ganglion cyst diagnosis may be confirmed by aspiration, a process in which your doctor uses a needle and syringe to draw out (aspirate) the fluid in the cyst. Fluid from a ganglion cyst will be thick and clear or translucent.
- Other imaging tests. Your doctor may recommend ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to gain information on the cyst's size, shape and depth. MRI or ultrasound may also be used if your doctor suspects a ganglion cyst, but the telltale swelling isn't visible in a physical exam. In this case, an MRI or ultrasound can help locate and diagnose the "hidden" ganglion cyst (occult ganglion).
References
- Cassidy C, et al. Hand and wrist ganglia. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Soft tissue tumors. In: Townsend CM, et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/204083196-3/1008522173/1565/724.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3..50078-2--cesec50_4373. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Topper SM. Wrist arthroscopy. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00020-8--sc5&uniq=204083196&isbn=978-1-4160-3143-7&sid=1008522613. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Ganglion (cyst) of the wrist. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00006#Treatment. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Ganglia. The Merck Manuals: Home Edition for Patients and Caregivers. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec05/ch071/ch071b.html. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Zuzek RW, et al. Ganglia. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/201217051-3/0/2088/253.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00016-2--sc0015_5192. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Amadio PC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 25, 2010.
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