Which of the following is a potential treatment for a ganglion cyst?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a potential treatment for a ganglion cyst?

Ganglion cysts are benign sacs lined by synovial tissue and filled with thick jelly-like fluid. Because the cyst wall communicates with the nearby joint or tendon sheath, applying firm pressure can rupture the wall and force the contents out, producing immediate decompression and a reduction in the lump. This makes simple rupture by pressure a potential, immediate relief option in a clinic setting. However, it’s not a definitive cure—the cyst wall and its connection to the joint or tendon sheath usually remain, so recurrence is common. For longer-lasting results, other approaches are used: aspiration to remove the fluid or surgical excision of the cyst (often with its stalk) to reduce the chance of recurrence. Antibiotics aren’t appropriate unless there’s an infection, and a nerve block doesn’t treat the cyst itself.

Ganglion cysts are benign sacs lined by synovial tissue and filled with thick jelly-like fluid. Because the cyst wall communicates with the nearby joint or tendon sheath, applying firm pressure can rupture the wall and force the contents out, producing immediate decompression and a reduction in the lump. This makes simple rupture by pressure a potential, immediate relief option in a clinic setting. However, it’s not a definitive cure—the cyst wall and its connection to the joint or tendon sheath usually remain, so recurrence is common.

For longer-lasting results, other approaches are used: aspiration to remove the fluid or surgical excision of the cyst (often with its stalk) to reduce the chance of recurrence. Antibiotics aren’t appropriate unless there’s an infection, and a nerve block doesn’t treat the cyst itself.

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