Cyst (Ganglion) & Cyst Aspiration
Cyst aspiration removes fluid from a fluid-filled nodule called a cyst. During the procedure, the skin is sterilized and a local anesthetic is administered. Once the area is numb, a needle is inserted into the patient's skin, often using ultrasound guidance. The tip of the needle is placed in the cyst and fluid is withdrawn until the cyst is emptied and collapses. It is important that the wall of the cyst be completely removed in order to avoid regrowth.
Although cysts may appear on any part of the body, they are commonly found on the skin. Most cysts are benign, regardless of their location, although on rare occasions it is possible for a cyst to become malignant.
Rodney Bland, DPM will treat and remove ganglion cysts on the feet at Bland Foot Care in Franklin, VA -- nearby Smithfield, Waverly, Sedley, Boykins, Windsor, Courtland, Emporia, Virginia. Our office is close to Murfreesboro, and Ahoskie, North Carolina.
Most of the time, cysts are removed through fine-needle aspiration. No bandages are required after cyst aspiration, and there should be no aftereffects. Cyst aspiration takes less than 5 minutes to perform. The fluid extracted from a cyst is sent to a pathology lab to confirm that the cyst is benign.