Ganglion cysts

Smooth, round lumps on the foot or ankle that stick out and are soft and moveable could be ganglion cysts. A cyst is an abnormal sac containing gas, fluid or a semisolid material. A ganglion cyst, a fluid-filled soft lump under your skin, forms when the synovial fluid in your joints and tendons leaks and forms a separate sac.

Ganglion cysts most commonly form around your wrist but can appear in any joint of the body, including ankle, foot, fingers and knees.

The size of ganglion cysts varies depending upon your age and the amount of pressure or repeated stress the particular joint experiences. Foot and ankle cysts can become large quite quickly due to the amount of time you are on your feet, and cysts that are formed after injury can become noticeable quickly. Some ganglion cysts are so small that you can’t feel or see them. This types of cyst is known for changing size and shape, often disappearing altogether only to reappear in the same place months later.

Ganglion cysts are not cancerous and are quite harmless. Unless they are painful, many people will choose to let nature take it’s course and the ganglion will eventually disappear on its own.

If the ganglion cyst is painful there are both non-surgical and surgical treatments for it including aspiration, steroid injections, and surgical removal. Your consultant will discuss all of the options with you and help you choose the one more suitable to your situation.