Ganglion Cyst (Hand and Wrist) Pathway

Start your treatment and watch your symptoms

Any new lump or bump on your body should be checked by a healthcare provider. This pathway is for anyone who has been diagnosed with a ganglion cyst on their hand or wrist.

Monitor your ganglion cyst. Call your healthcare providers or Health Link at 811 if you have any concerns. You might feel like you don’t want to bother your healthcare providers, but no detail is too small to share. If it matters to you, it will matter to your healthcare providers.

Clarify with your healthcare providers what to expect in terms of communication after your appointment. Connect with your healthcare providers whenever you:

have questions
notice your symptoms getting worse
haven’t gotten test results or heard back about an appointment in the time you had agreed to

Contact your healthcare provider

Contact your healthcare provider if:

your ganglion cyst is growing consistently
you have increasing pain
the skin on the hand or wrist around the lump becomes red and warm

Ganglion cyst pathway map

Ganglion Cyst Pathway

Download or print the full patient pathway (PDF) and summary (one-page PDF) to learn more about how to prevent, manage, and treat ganglion cyst problems.
Patient Pathway Summary

Current as of: September 8, 2025

Author: Patient Pathway Unit, Primary Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services

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This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.

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