For more than ten years, Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon Robert Spinner, M.D., has been on a quest to identify the cause and best treatment of intraneural ganglion cysts. These rare cysts form within nerves, causing symptoms such as motor loss, sensory abnormality or pain.
“These cysts have been considered a curiosity in the medical community and many people thought they just formed – de novo,” says Dr. Spinner. “But in my research and clinical practice, I’ve noticed that they have very stereotypical types of patterns.”
Dr. Spinner studied more than 300 medical papers and identified that the earliest documented case of an intraneural ganglion cyst was frequently referenced to Duchenne in 1810. However, further research uncovered that this attribution was incorrect and should instead have referenced Beauchêne in 1810. This discovery enabled Dr. Spinner both to locate and examine first hand that 200-year-old specimen in a Paris museum.
“The ability to study all documented intraneural ganglion cysts, including the oldest known specimen, was very satisfying and allowed us to make some important conclusions,” says Dr. Spinner. “We now know that these cysts are joint-related problems. So, radical surgical approaches that remove the entire cyst are unnecessary. By simply fixing the joint problem, the cyst will go away. ”
This study is published in the October 2008 issue of Clinical Anatomy.
Dr. Spinner provides an overview of his research.
8 Comments
I have a huge ganglion cyst on my shoulder that has been giving no problem for 10 years. It never gave me pain until yesterday, but WOW, it has made up for lost time! Are you still doing research? Want a really big one? Golf ball size and growing. I have to do something soon.
Thanks,
David Daniels
Thank you for your interest, David. You can request an appointment by calling 507-284-8008. I will follow up with you directly via e-mail as well.
I have a gangliopn cyst in my right hip. it sits deep that i was refered to orthopedic hip guy who said he would not touch it. it has been causing on and off pain for over a year since i was hurt but the past 3 months have been non stop pain sometime so bad i get pain down the leg and at times cannot even move my right leg. i cannot ding anything on line about this? do you have any info you can post regarding ganglion cyst in the hip . it was so bad they sent me for a mri after x rays showed i did not break anything (which was what they suspected)thanks so much
Thanks for your comment, Donna. Dr. Spinner is more than happy to review your records and MRI. You can call 507-284-8008 to request this. I’ll send you an e-mail as well.
I remember reading not too long ago about applying for a medical mystery type thing at Mayo. This was where you submitted your mystery illness and MDs decided whether to take your case for free.
Is this still available and if so, how would I submit information for possible care?
Best Regards,
Kristina in NH
Thank you for your comment, Kristina. Unfortunately, there is no program for free medical care for mystery diagnoses at Mayo Clinic, as many of the 500,000 patients seen here every year come seeking answers to their “medical mysteries.” However, you can always request an appointment at Mayo Clinic by visiting: http://www.mayoclinic.org/patientinfo/appointments.html.
I have a huge cyst on my right hip that is causing severe pain. I’ve been schedule twice for hip replacement surgery, but I feel that the cyst is the root of the pain and not the hip. I live in the DC, VA, MD, area and was wondering if you could recommend a surgeon here that would take care of the problem?
Thank you in advance,
Christina Cropp
tinacropp@hotmail.com
Thanks for your comment, Christina. We cannot recommend a particular surgeon or medical center in your area, but if you would like to be evaluated at Mayo Clinic, you can call 888-509-8773 to request an appointment.