Ganglion cysts · Tarzana · Los Angeles

Ganglion Cyst Treatment in Los Angeles

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Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons specialize exclusively in the hand and upper extremity. Dr. Rob Viswanath and Dr. Ryan Tantone diagnose and treat ganglion cysts for patients across the San Fernando Valley, West Valley, and West LA.

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Man with a ganglion cyst on his wrist typing at a desk

Benign

The most common hand and wrist mass

A few days

Back to light activities

4 - 6

Weeks, most return to full duty

When a Wrist Lump Starts Getting in the Way

You noticed a lump on your wrist that wasn't there last month. It's firm, it moves slightly under the skin, and it gets bigger on days you use your hands hard. Nobody wants an unexplained mass on their body, and the first question is always the same: what is this?

Some ganglion cysts sit quietly for years. Others ache with every push-up, press against a nerve until your fingers tingle, or block the last few degrees of wrist extension you need to lift a barbell or lean on a desk.

Waiting rarely makes the answer clearer. A cyst pressing on a nerve can leave lasting weakness, and self-treatment attempts, including the old trick of striking it with a heavy book, risk fracture and infection without solving anything.

Your care

What to Expect From Ganglion Cyst Care

A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled sac that grows from a joint capsule or tendon sheath, most often on the back of the wrist. It's benign, and confirming that is usually the first relief patients feel.

Our approach depends entirely on whether the cyst causes symptoms. A painless cyst that doesn't limit you may simply need observation, and we'll say so.

A clear diagnosis

With ultrasound or MRI when the mass needs further confirmation.

Straight answers

About whether the cyst is harmless and whether treatment is warranted.

Aspiration in the office

When a quick, low-commitment option makes sense.

Patients working with us can expect:

Surgical excision

That removes the cyst along with its stalk to lower the chance of return.

Guidance on wrist mechanics and activity

If the cyst is tied to how you load your hand.

Aspiration is quick, but cysts often return

Excision has a much lower recurrence rate, and we'll walk you through the trade-off before you decide.

Specialist explaining hand anatomy to a patient

Candidacy

Who Is a Good Candidate for Ganglion Cyst Treatment?

Any unexplained lump on the hand or wrist deserves a proper look, even one you suspect is harmless. Diagnosis alone is worth the visit.

Treatment is a strong fit for:

Anyone with a wrist or finger lump causing pain, aching, or pressure
Patients whose cyst limits wrist motion, grip strength, or weight-bearing on the hands
People with numbness or tingling suggesting the cyst is compressing a nerve
Those with a cyst that has recurred after a previous aspiration
Patients bothered by the appearance of a visible mass on the hand
Anyone unsure whether their lump is a cyst at all and wanting a definitive answer

Cysts at the base of a finger or under the nail behave differently from wrist cysts, and each location calls for its own approach.

Medical professional aspirating a ganglion cyst on a wrist

What to expect

Your Path From Lump to Answer

Step 01

Identifying the Mass

We examine the lump for size, location, firmness, and movement, then check whether it transilluminates. Most ganglion cysts are recognizable at this stage.

Step 02

Confirming With Imaging

When the presentation is unusual, or the cyst sits deep, ultrasound or MRI confirms the diagnosis and shows its connection to the joint. X-rays rule out related bone or arthritic changes.

Step 03

Mapping Your Symptoms

We connect what the cyst is doing to what you do daily, at work, in the gym, and at rest. This determines whether treatment is worth pursuing at all.

Step 04

Choosing Your Route

Observation, in-office aspiration, or surgical removal, chosen with full disclosure of recurrence rates and recovery time for each.

Step 05

Healing & Follow-Up

After excision, we manage your dressing, monitor the incision, and start gentle motion early to protect wrist mobility as you heal.

Your Questions Answered

FAQs About Ganglion Cyst in LA

Ganglion cysts are benign, not cancerous, and they don't spread. They're the most common mass found in the hand and wrist. That said, not every lump is a ganglion cyst, which is why an evaluation matters. A hand specialist can distinguish a cyst from other masses that do require different management.
Many do. A meaningful share of ganglion cysts shrink or disappear without any treatment, sometimes over months or years. If your cyst is painless and doesn't restrict your hand, watchful waiting is a legitimate choice. Treatment becomes worthwhile when the cyst causes pain, limits movement, or presses on a nerve.
Aspiration of the fluid with a needle in the office takes minutes with no incision, but the cyst returns in a large percentage of cases because the stalk remains. Surgical excision removes the sac and its connection to the joint, which substantially lowers recurrence but involves a small incision and recovery period.
Most patients resume light activities with their hand within a few days and return to desk work quickly. Stitches typically come out around ten to fourteen days. Full strength and heavy lifting generally resume by four to six weeks, depending on the cyst's location and your job demands.
Yes, though rates differ sharply by method. Recurrence after aspiration is common. After careful surgical excision that includes the stalk, recurrence is far less frequent. We discuss realistic expectations for your specific cyst before you choose a treatment path.
Our office is at 5525 Etiwanda Avenue, Suite 228, Tarzana, CA 91356, and we serve patients across the San Fernando Valley, West Valley, and West LA. Reach us at 818-578-3152 or 310-295-6317, or submit an online appointment request, and our team will confirm your visit.

What Our Customers Say

Stop Wondering About That Lump

The uncertainty is usually worse than the cyst itself. One focused appointment tells you what you're dealing with, whether anything needs to be done, and what your options actually cost you in time.

Our surgeons are accepting new patients throughout Los Angeles right now. Call 818-578-3152 or send an appointment request online, and get a real answer this week instead of another month of guessing.

Call 818-578-3152 Request an appointment

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