Mucoid Cysts of the Fingers. Differential Diagnosis, Ultrastructure, and Surgical Treatment

Abstract

The title "digital mucoid cyst" is generic and encompasses cutaneous myxomas, which are focal intradermic mucinoses that are at times cystic, and ganglia, which are subcutaneous teno-arthro-synovial "hernias." A large myxoma over the second and third phalanges of the middle finger of the left hand is reported that caused progressive functional incapacity. It was managed by surgery, the technique of which is described. The need to differentiate cutaneous myxomas from ganglia is emphasized because the treatment of them is different.

Managing Digital Mucoid Cysts by Cryosurgery with Liquid Nitrogen: Preliminary Report

“…Clinical diagnosis is easy, but a permanent cure may be difficult to achieve. Excisional surgery is often difficult to perform due to the size and awkward location of the cysts and is often followed by recurrence unless the lesion is radically removed 2 . These surgical procedures may be complicated by limitation of joint mobility and poor cosmetic result.…”

A Case of Herpetiform Appearance of Digital Mucous Cysts

“…The second type is the ganglion type, which is associated with changes of degenerative joint disease and commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoarthritis and osteophytes. It results from herniation of the tendon sheath or joint linings, thus representing a ganglion 6 . …”

A Case of Digital Myxoid Cyst Coexisting with Epidermal Inclusion Cyst

“…Histologically, multiple clefts or loose connective tissues which contain abundant acid mucopolysaccarides are seen in the dermis without epithelial lining. There are two types of digital myxoid cysts: myxomatous and ganglion 3,4 . In the ganglion type, mucous material derives from the joint fluid of the interphalangeal joint.…”