Cysts: Types and Treatment

A cyst is a closed pouch of tissues that may be filled with gases, pus or fluid. They can be formed in part of the body and age is no criteria for this. Their size can be very small that they can be seen by microscope only and can also be so large that they can replace a organ.

Causes

The causes of formation of cysts are endless. Several reasons could be there such as any obstruction in the flow of fluid, chronic inflammation, severe infection, heredity, tumour and the list is endless.

Investigation

Some cysts you can feel. A lump is seen. A cyst of skin or tissues under the skin is visible as a lump. Cysts in the breast can also be felt by touching it. Inside cysts can only be determined by X ray, CT scan or ultrasound. Only some cysts show symptoms and only some are harmful.

Types

There are different types of cysts such as ovarian cyst, ganglion cyst (that are of joints and tendons), bakers cyst (that is formed behind the knee), sebaceous cyst (that is formed of sebaceous glands of the skin), polycystic kidney disease in which several cysts are present in the kidney and many more types are there.

Ovarian cysts are very common in females. Ovaries are the organs that are present in both sides of the pelvis. During menstrual cycle, a cystic structure is formed on the walls known as follicles. These follicles produce hormones. These follicles fall off after menstruation. But in some cases these follicles persist to grow and multiply there. This results in what is known as ovarian cyst. These cysts are common in all women who undergo menstrual cycle.

Treatment

Treatment of the cyst depends upon its location and size. Some cysts can be removed surgically. Some cysts are filled with fluid and this fluid can be taken out using syringe and the cysts dissolve within itself.

Some cysts can be cancerous, they should be removed immediately and biopsy should be done of that to confirm whether the cyst is cancerous or not and then the necessary treatment should be followed.