Thenar Ganglion 

A ganglion cyst is a tumor or swelling on top of a joint or the covering of a tendon. Inside the cyst is a thick, sticky, clear, colorless, jellylike material. Depending on the size, cysts may feel firm or spongy. Ganglion cysts, also known as Bible cysts, are more common in women, and 70% occur in people between 20-40 years of age. Rarely, ganglion cysts can occur in children younger than 10 years of age. Ganglion cysts most commonly occur on the back of the hand (60%-70%), at the wrist joint, and can also develop on the palm side of the wrist. They can also arise from the tendon sheath at the base of the fingers in the palm, where they appear as small pea-sized bumps (reticular cyst) or  or the fingertip, just below the cuticle, where they are called mucous cysts. This case demonstrates a ganglion cyst presenting in the thenar area that was originating from the first carpo-metacarpal joint.


Thenar GanglionSoft tissue tumor of the thenar area.








Thenar GanglionGanglion cyst dissected free from the surrounding structures to its’ origin.







Thenar GanglionThe origin was the carpo-metacarpal joint of the thumb. A portion of the joint capsule was excised with the cyst to prevent recurrence.