A cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct membrane and division compared to the nearby tissue.
Basically, a cyst is a cluster of cells that have grouped together to form a sac (not unlike the manner in which water molecules group together, forming a bubble); however, the distinguishing aspect of a cyst is the cells forming the "shell" of such a sac, are distinctly abnormal (in both appearance and behaviour) when compared to all surrounding cells for that given location.
It may contain air, fluids, or semi-solid material. A collection of pus is called an abscess, not a cyst. Once formed, a cyst may sometimes resolve on its own.
Whether a cyst that fails to resolve may need to be removed by surgery will depend on what type of cyst it is and where in the body it has formed.
This is just one example of how the Greek root cyst-, which simply means a fluid-filled sac, is also found in medical terms that relate to the urinary bladder and the gallbladder but that have nothing to do with cysts.
Some cysts in the brain can cause headaches, as well as other symptoms.
Many internal cysts, such as those in the kidneys or the liver may not have any symptoms and go unnoticed until an imaging scan (MRI scan, CAT scan, ultrasound) detects them.
A very large cyst that causes symptoms can be surgically removed. Sometimes the doctors may decide to drain or aspirate the cyst by inserting a needle or catheter into the cavity. If the cyst is not easily accessible, drainage or aspiration is often done with the help of radiologic imaging so that the doctor can accurately guide the needle/catheter into the target area.
Sometimes the aspirated liquid is examined under a microscope to determine whether cancerous cells are present.
If doctors suspect the cyst may be cancerous it may be removed surgically, or a biopsy of the capsule (cyst wall) may be ordered.
Many cysts arise as a result of a chronic or underlying medical condition, as may be the case with fibrocystic breast disease or polycystic ovary syndrome - in such cases the focus of treatment is on the medical condition.
Basically, a cyst is a cluster of cells that have grouped together to form a sac (not unlike the manner in which water molecules group together, forming a bubble); however, the distinguishing aspect of a cyst is the cells forming the "shell" of such a sac, are distinctly abnormal (in both appearance and behaviour) when compared to all surrounding cells for that given location.
It may contain air, fluids, or semi-solid material. A collection of pus is called an abscess, not a cyst. Once formed, a cyst may sometimes resolve on its own.
Whether a cyst that fails to resolve may need to be removed by surgery will depend on what type of cyst it is and where in the body it has formed.
Types
- Acne cyst – Pseudocysts associated with cystic acne. Actually an inflammatory nodule with or without an associated epidermoid inclusion cyst.
- Aneurysmal bone cyst - Aggressive lesion with radiographic cystic appearance
- Arachnoid cyst (between the surface of the brain and the cranial base or on the arachnoid membrane)
- Baker's cyst or popliteal cyst (behind the knee joint)
- Bartholin's cyst
- Breast cyst
- Buccal bifurcation cyst[2]
- Calcifying odontogenic cyst
- Chalazion cyst (eyelid)
- Chocolate cyst of ovary
- Choroid plexus cyst (brain)
- Colloid cyst
- Cysticercal cyst - the larval stage of Taenia sp. (Crain's backs)
- Dentigerous cyst (associated with the crowns of non-erupted teeth)
- Dermoid cyst (ovaries, testes, many other locations from head to tailbone)
- Epididymal cyst (found in the vessels attached to the testes)
- Ganglion cyst (hand/foot joints and tendons)
- Glandular odontogenic cyst
- Glial cyst (in the brain)
- Gartner's duct cyst (vaginal or vulvar cyst of embryological origin)
- Hydatid cyst (larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus (tapeworm))
- Hydrocele (testicle)
- Keratocyst (in the jaws, these can appear solitary or associated with the Gorlin-Goltz or Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. The latest World Health Organization classification considers Keratocysts as tumors rather than cysts)
- Liver cystic disease
- Meibomian cyst (eyelid)
- Mucoid cyst (ganglion cysts of the digits)
- Mucous cyst of the oral mucosa
- Myxoid cyst (cutaneous condition often characterized by nail plate depression and grooves)
- Nabothian cyst (cervix)
- Nasolabial duct cyst
- Odontogenic cyst (teeth)
- Ovarian cyst (ovaries, functional and pathological)Ovarian cyst - the majority of ovarian cysts are benign. Some can become so large that the woman looks pregnant. Ovarian cysts 5cm long or less are common during a woman's reproductive years. Approximately 20% of females will be diagnosed with an ovarian cyst or tumor at some time in their life - a small percentage of them will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Scientists from The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University said that testing patients suspected of having ovarian cancers for a combination of biomarkers (specific proteins) may be the key in predicting their cancer risk. The biomarkers, which can be identified in a blood test, are called CA 125 and HE4
- Pancreatic cyst
- Paradental cyst
- Parapelvic cyst (kidney)
- Paratubal cyst (fallopian tube)
- Periapical cyst - This cyst, also known as radicular cyst, is the most common odontogenic cyst
- Pericardial cyst
- Peritoneal cyst (lining of the abdominal cavity)
- Pilar cyst (cyst of the scalp)
- Pilonidal cyst (skin infection near tailbone)
- Renal cyst (kidneys)
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Pineal gland cyst
- Radicular cyst - associated with the roots of non-vital teeth, also known as periapical cyst
- Residual cyst
- Sebaceous cyst - sac below skin
- Skene's duct cyst, a paraurethral cyst
- Spermatocele (testicle)
- Stafne static bone cyst (An anatomic variant with radiographic cystic appearance in the posterior mandible)
- Tarlov cyst (spine)
- Thyroglossal cyst
- Trichilemmal cyst – Same as a pilar cyst. A familial cyst of the scalp.
- Vocal fold cyst
Cystic fibrosis
Despite being described in 1938 as the microscopic appearance of cysts in the pancreas, cystic fibrosis is an example of a genetic disorder whose name is related to fibrosis of the cystic duct (which serves the gallbladder) and does not involve actual cysts.This is just one example of how the Greek root cyst-, which simply means a fluid-filled sac, is also found in medical terms that relate to the urinary bladder and the gallbladder but that have nothing to do with cysts.
Cystic neoplasm
Most cysts in the body are benign (dysfunctional) tumors, the result of plugged ducts or other natural body outlets for secretions. However sometimes these masses are considered neoplasm:Cysts can be caused by:
- Tumors
- Genetic conditions
- Infections
- A fault in an organ of a developing embryo
- A defect in the cells
- Chronic inflammatory conditions
- Blockages of ducts in the body which cause a fluid build-up
- A parasite
- Impact injury that breaks a vessel.
Signs and symptoms
A cyst in the mammary glands (breasts) may be noticeable when the breasts are examined by touching them - the lump will be palpable. Breast cysts are often painful.Some cysts in the brain can cause headaches, as well as other symptoms.
Many internal cysts, such as those in the kidneys or the liver may not have any symptoms and go unnoticed until an imaging scan (MRI scan, CAT scan, ultrasound) detects them.
Treatment
Treatment ranges from simple enucleation of the cyst to curettage to resection. There are cysts, e.g. buccal bifurcation cyst with self-resolation nature, in which close observation only can be employed unless the cyst is infected and symptomatic.A very large cyst that causes symptoms can be surgically removed. Sometimes the doctors may decide to drain or aspirate the cyst by inserting a needle or catheter into the cavity. If the cyst is not easily accessible, drainage or aspiration is often done with the help of radiologic imaging so that the doctor can accurately guide the needle/catheter into the target area.
Sometimes the aspirated liquid is examined under a microscope to determine whether cancerous cells are present.
If doctors suspect the cyst may be cancerous it may be removed surgically, or a biopsy of the capsule (cyst wall) may be ordered.
Many cysts arise as a result of a chronic or underlying medical condition, as may be the case with fibrocystic breast disease or polycystic ovary syndrome - in such cases the focus of treatment is on the medical condition.
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