My six-year-old daughter has had a ganglion cyst on her wrist for at least a year now. Since the cyst didn’t seem to be painful, I’ve put off taking her to the doctor. Now I’m wondering if it’s too late, or if there’s something the doctor can do.

Children with ganglion cysts are usually best treated by watching and waiting. However, if a child has a ganglion cyst that still hasn’t gone away after a year, the cyst may not go away by itself. When your doctor has examined the cyst, he or she may decide to give the cyst more time, especially if the cyst is not causing pain or other problems. In the event the cyst simply does not go away, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove it.