腱鞘囊肿是手和腕部类型最为常见的肿瘤。[1]Athanasian E. Bone and soft tissue tumors. In: Green DP, Hotchkiss RN, Peterson WC, et al, eds. Green's operative hand surgery. 5th ed. Churchill Livingston; 2005:2221-2232. 它们更可能出现在女性中,男女比率为 1:3。该病通常影响 20~40 岁的患者,但可见于任何年龄人群。背侧腱鞘囊肿约占腱鞘囊肿的 60%~70%,其余为腕掌侧腕腱鞘囊肿。[2]Nelson CL, Sawmiller S, Phalen GS. Ganglions of the wrist and hand. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1972;54:1459-1464.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4653631?tool=bestpractice.com 通常,腱鞘囊肿多源于成人群体的腕关节内,但是也有可能由腱鞘引起。在腱鞘囊肿的患儿中,女童发病率超过男童 (1.8:1),而且腱鞘囊肿的掌侧发病率高于背侧 (1.2:1)。[3]Coffey MJ, Fazlur Rahman M, Thirkannad SM. Pediatric ganglion cysts of the hand and wrist: an epidemiologic analysis. Hand (NY). 2008;3:359-362.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18780007?tool=bestpractice.com 与成人相比,13 岁以下患者因腱鞘引发腱鞘囊肿的比率 (33%) 更高。