The study replicated earlier findings that no ganglion cysts were found on the sole or heel.

The authors wrote, "Although lumps in these areas may be ganglia, the surgeon should probably consider other diagnoses in the first instance."

The researchers noted a preponderance of occurrence among females (85%) and that 11 of the other cases had been misdiagnosed as ganglion cysts before surgery.

[15] From their common origin at a joint or tendon, ganglion cysts may form in a wide range of locations.

[6][16] Rare cases of intramuscular ganglion cysts in the gastrocnemius muscle of the calf have been reported.

In one extreme case, a ganglion cyst was observed to propagate extensively via the conduit of the common peroneal nerve sheath to a location in the thigh; in such cases surgery to the proximal joint to remove the articular connection may remove the need for a riskier, more extensive surgery in the neural tissue of the thigh.

[20] Cystic adventitial disease, in which a cyst occurs within the popliteal artery near the knee, has been proposed recently to occur by an articular mechanism, with a conduit leading from the joint, similar to the development of ganglion cysts, that spreads within the peroneal nerve.

[22] Cysts that were compressing one or more nerves and causing bone erosions have been reported to occur near the shoulder joint.

[23] The most commonly accepted probable cause of ganglion cysts is the herniation hypothesis, by which they are thought to occur as an out-pouching or distention of a weakened portion of a joint capsule or tendon sheath.

Other possible mechanisms for the development of ganglion cysts include repeated mechanical stress, facet arthrosis, myxoid degeneration of periarticular fibrous tissues and liquefaction with chronic damage, increased production of hyaluronic acid by fibroblasts, and a proliferation of mesenchymal cells.

Ultrasonography (US) may be used to increase diagnostic confidence in clinically suspected lesions or to view smaller "occult" cysts as a cause of dorsal wrist pain with forceful extension.

Of the untreated ganglion cysts, 58% resolved spontaneously; the postsurgery recurrence rate in this study was 39%.