Cysts can occur in a wide variety of organs, including the breast, ovaries, knee, head, or kidneys. They are often not discovered until a routine physical exam because they cause no symptoms or only nonspecific symptoms. Cysts are usually harmless, but in rare cases they can degenerate. Whether treatment is necessary depends primarily on whether the cyst is causing symptoms or not. Learn more about various treatment options here.
What is a cyst?
A cyst is a cavity in tissue that is filled with fluid. It may be blood, pus, tissue fluid, or sebum. The fluid cannot leak out because the cavity is sealed by a capsule. Each cyst may have one or more fluid-filled chambers.
Cysts can occur in different sizes and in different organs and tissues. Generally, a distinction is made between true cysts and pseudocysts. Pseudocysts are not lined with a layer of cells, but are surrounded only by a connective tissue sheath. In general, cysts can occur at any age.
Various causes
Various causes are possible for the development of a cyst. In the breast, ovaries as well as testicles, they often form due to the influence of hormones.
In addition, chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis or other hereditary diseases can also be the cause. In cystic fibrosis, for example, cysts often appear in the lungs. Finally, tumors or parasites as well as a drainage disorder (such as in the case of sebaceous gland cysts) can also lead to the formation of cysts.
Symptoms of a cyst
Cysts rarely cause symptoms, which is why they often go undetected for a long time. Whether symptoms occur, and if so which ones, depends largely on their size and location. Some cysts are easily visible or palpable. This is usually the case if they are located close under the skin, for example in the breast or knee.
If, on the other hand, the cysts are located in internal organs, they are often only discovered by routine examination. They form particularly frequently in organs of the abdominal cavity, such as the liver or kidney. Such cysts are usually only noticeable when they are greatly enlarged or burst. This can cause severe pain and sometimes bleeding.
Some cysts block the excretory duct of an organ (retention cyst). This is often the case, for example, in the paranasal sinuses. If the excretory duct is blocked here, the mucus can no longer drain properly. This makes it easier for germs to settle and can lead to repeated sinusitis.
Diagnosis often occurs by chance
Cysts in internal organs are often discovered incidentally during a routine ultrasound examination. If further investigation is needed, a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or X-ray may be performed.
Cysts are benign in themselves, but in rare cases they can degenerate. If there is any doubt about the benign nature, a cyst puncture can be performed. This involves taking some fluid from the cyst to have it examined more closely in the laboratory.
Treating cysts
If a benign cyst is present that does not cause any symptoms, no treatment is necessary. Often, it will simply regress on its own. However, if the cyst becomes too large or causes discomfort, it should be removed.
Cysts just under the skin can be easily punctured and the fluid they contain removed. However, they may fill with fluid again over time. If this is the case, the cyst should be removed by minor surgery. Surgery is also recommended if healthy tissue is damaged or pain is experienced.
Cysts in internal organs often do not need to be treated – always provided that they do not cause any problems. Nevertheless, they should be checked regularly by a doctor to detect any changes. This is because some cysts can degenerate and develop into malignant tumors.
