A prospective study included the responses to a follow-up mail survey from 155 of 233 patients referred to a hand surgeon because of a ganglion of the palmar wrist. Among the respondents, 38 were treated with aspiration, 79 with surgical excision and 38 with reassurance alone. At the time of follow-up (either 2 or 5 years) 42% of the cysts excised and 47% of those aspirated had recurred at the time of follow-up, while 53% of those not treated spontaneously disappeared.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (few patients and wide confidence intervals) and by limitations in study quality.