Ganglion is the most common benign tumor of the hand and wrist. Its etiology remains unclear.
The dorsal ganglion cyst of the wrist arises from the scapholunate ligament and it is attached to
the scapholunate ligament via a pedicle. In general ganglions are firm, rubbery, not fixed to the
skin, and usually range in size from 1 to 3 cm. They are often nontender to palpation, but wrist
motion exacerbates pain. Diagnosis is clinical, and, if needed, can be confirmed by aspiration
and transillumination. A ganglion can resolve spontaneously. Conservative treatment includes
consultation, watchful waiting, treatment with NSAIDs and aspiration. If surgical treatment is needed,
it is very important to excise the pedicle tangentially from the scapholunate ligament in order to avoid
recurrence.