Cysts often do not cause many symptoms or pain unless they become infected or rupture, and they are usually discovered when a person first feels an abnormal lump under the skin.
Cysts are formations resembling a closed capsule or sac in the body, usually filled with fluid, dead skin, or air. They are not a normal part of the tissue on which they form, but rather are separate, with a distinct membrane. The size of cysts varies and can range from microscopic to large enough to displace internal organs. Most cysts are benign (non-cancerous), but some can be cancerous or precancerous and must be removed. If a cyst is filled with pus, it means it is infected and can form an abscess.
Why do cysts form, and what symptoms indicate them?
They can appear anywhere on the body. Cysts are often the result of a blocked sebaceous gland, infection, genetics, tumors, cell damage, duct blockage, chronic inflammatory conditions, or developmental defects in organs during the embryonic stage. Cysts often do not cause many symptoms or pain unless they become infected or rupture. They are usually discovered when a person first feels an abnormal lump under the skin.
Internal cysts may remain unnoticed until an MRI or ultrasound reveals their size and location. Breast cysts can often cause pain, while brain cysts may cause headaches. For large cysts that cause issues, doctors usually recommend surgical removal. Another treatment option is draining or aspirating the cyst with a large needle. If there is suspicion that a cyst is cancerous, the cells in the fluid or the cyst wall are examined via biopsy.
What are the most common types?
There are hundreds of types of cysts that can appear in the body, with the most common ones being:
- Epidermal cysts (on the skin)
- Baker’s cyst behind the knee
- Cysts within the thyroid gland
- Cysts of glands in the eyelid
- Ovarian cysts, including dermoid cysts
- Ganglion cysts of joints and tendons
- Sebaceous cysts of small glands in the skin
- Pineal cysts inside the pineal gland in the brain
- Tarlov cysts, also known as meningeal or perineural cysts
- Pancreatic cysts, clusters of fluid within the pancreas
- Breast cysts, which are part of benign proliferative disease
- Bartholin’s cysts, an enlargement of small glands near the vaginal opening
- Polycystic kidney disease, an inherited condition where the kidneys contain multiple cysts.
How is it determined if cysts are cancerous?
To determine whether a cyst might be cancerous, it is necessary to measure CA-125 levels, a tumor marker for ovarian cancer, which is used to monitor the disease in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. If the analysis shows a higher level of this protein, it indicates that a woman may have ovarian cancer. However, some ovarian cancers may not produce enough protein to be detected by this test. Additionally, other non-cancerous conditions, such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis, can increase CA-125 levels in women. Non-cancerous causes of increased CA-125 are more common in women under 35, whereas ovarian cancer is rare in this age group. Therefore, the CA-125 test is generally recommended for women over 35, who are at greater risk for the disease, and have a cyst that is partially solid.
Can lumps be dangerous if left untreated?
If, for example, a cyst appears with multiple lumps and openings on the skin, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist, as such growths may be associated with other more serious health conditions and require immediate treatment to prevent progression. Cysts on the body smaller than 1 cm may not require treatment if they do not cause problems, but they should be monitored. However, if they start to grow, it is advisable to remove them before they become too large, as timely treatment reduces scar size.