Cysts
Cysts are walled-off sacs that can form in various tissues throughout the body, containing liquid or semisolid material, and can range in size from microscopic to very large. While the exact causes of cysts remain largely unknown, they are often thought to arise from blocked hair follicles, infections, developmental defects, or other obstructions. Symptoms can vary significantly; some cysts are asymptomatic and discovered incidentally through imaging, while others may be noticeable lumps on the skin or in deeper organs, potentially causing pressure and discomfort.
Most cysts are benign, although a small number can be associated with cancer. Common types include sebaceous cysts, ganglion cysts, and breast cysts, each with unique characteristics and potential symptoms. Treatment options depend on the cyst's size, location, and whether it causes problems, ranging from monitoring to surgical removal or aspiration. In cases where cysts are linked to underlying conditions, treatment may focus on managing the condition itself. Understanding cysts can provide valuable insights for anyone encountering these structures in themselves or others, facilitating informed discussions with healthcare professionals.
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Cysts
ANATOMY OR SYSTEM AFFECTED: All
DEFINITION: A walled-off sac that is not normally found in the tissue where it occurs. To be a true cyst, a lump must have a capsule around it. Cysts usually contain a liquid or semisolid core (center) and vary in size from microscopic to very large. They may occur in any tissue of the body in a person of any age.
CAUSES: Unknown; likely arise when hair follicles becomes blocked
SYMPTOMS: Lumps in skin or areas such as the breast, brain, or bone; may put pressure on surrounding organs, causing pain
DURATION: Varies
TREATMENTS: Surgical drainage, sometimes antibiotics to prevent infection
Causes and Symptoms
Cysts can be caused by a many different processes, including infections, defects in the development of an during pregnancy, various obstructions to the flow of body fluids, tumors, a number of different inflammatory conditions, and genetic diseases.
Cysts may have no symptoms at all, or they may be quite noticeable, depending on their size and location. For example, a person with a cyst in the skin or breast will most likely be able to feel the lump. On the other hand, a cyst on an internal organ may not produce any symptoms unless it becomes so large that it keeps the organ from functioning properly or presses on another organ. Many times, internal cysts are discovered by chance on an X ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, scan, or ultrasound for an unrelated condition.
It is impossible to list all the different types of cysts that might form in the body, but they are usually benign. Only very rarely are cysts associated with cancer or with serious infection. One common type of cyst is a sebaceous cyst, found in the oil-secreting glands of the skin. Sebacious cysts may become quite large and contain a foul-smelling, cheesy substance within the capsule. Breast cysts are filled with and may enlarge and recede with the changing hormones of the menstrual cycle. Just before menses, breast cysts may be quite tender. Ganglion cysts occur over joints and on the tendons of the body. A chalazion, or cyst in the eyelid, is usually not painful but can be quite irritating.
Some cyst development is part of a particular disease or disorder. For example, cysts form on the ovaries in a disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome. There are also a number of different renal diseases that involve the development of cysts on the kidney.
Treatment and Therapy
The treatment for cysts depends on their size and location and whether they are causing symptoms. A small, cyst is often simply monitored.
When surgery is performed to remove a cyst, it is usually “shelled out” so that the entire capsule and its contents are removed. (If the capsule is left intact, then it might simply fill up again.) Depending on the location of the cyst, this may be performed in an office using local or in the of a hospital. When cancer is a possibility, the cell wall and any fluids are evaluated microscopically to determine whether any malignant cells are present.
Aspiration is another technique for treating cysts. A needle is inserted into the middle of the cyst, and any fluid is removed (aspirated) through the needle. If the cyst is deep within the body, then the may be guided by ultrasound or another radiologic technique. Aspiration may make the cyst disappear, or it may fill up again.
Some cysts are treated by incision and drainage. An opening is made in the cyst, and all the material in the core is removed. The cyst is then packed with gauze to ensure that the surgical incision does not close and allow the cyst to fill up again. The gauze is replaced periodically until healing takes place.
Ganglion cysts on tendons or joints may be successfully treated by injection with a steroid. If the cyst is part of another medical condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome, then any treatment is usually aimed at the medical condition rather than the cyst itself.
Bibliography
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Chatterjee, Arjun, Tyler Stevens, and Prabhleen Chahal. "Diagnosis and Management of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions for the Non-gastroenterologist." Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, vol. 91, no. 2, Feb. 2024, pp. 96-102, DOI: doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.91a.23019. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.
"Cysts (Overview)." Harvard Health, 9 Mar. 2022, www.health.harvard.edu/a‗to‗z/cysts-overview-a-to-z. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.
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