Cysts - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Definition

A cyst is a sack that is not a normal part of the tissue where it is found. These can occur anywhere on the body and can present at any age. Cysts usually contain a gaseous, liquid or semisolid substance. They may be of different sizes. The size vary so much that sometimes they are visible by microscope and sometimes they grow so large that they displace the normal organ or tissue such as an ear. The outer wall of Cyst is called a capsule. This type of cyst may, for instance, protect a parasite from the churning acid of the stomach so it may pass through to the intestines unharmed where it can then break out. At surgery a cyst can usually be excised in its entirety; poor surgical technique or previous infection leading to scarring and tethering of the cyst to the surrounding tissue may lead to rupture during excision and removal.

Causes

1. Follicular cyst: This is most common cyst. It can occur when follicle does not release an egg. Instead it grows and turns into a cyst. Follicular cysts can grow up to five or six centimeters wide. Follicular cysts are usually harmless, rarely cause pain and often disappear on their own within two or three menstrual cycles.
2. Corpus luteum cyst: It is less common. These come into existence when a tissue that is left behind after an egg is released. It is filled with blood. It is also known as haemorrhagic cyst. It can be up to size 6 centimeters. They take two to three months to go away. Sometimes pain may be felt.

 Symptoms

1. Cyst usually appears as a lump on the wrist. These are generally painless but when the wrist is extended or flexed pain may be felt.
2. In most cases when touched, or prodded, the bulge doesn't feel sort it just feels like a water-filled balloon. However, a Baker's cyst can cause symptoms and when this happens people experience pain around the back of the knee or tightness behind the knee, particularly when they bend or straighten their knee joint.
3. The women who are caused by cyst may feel menstrual irregularities.
4. Other symptoms are Nausea, vomiting or breast tenderness similar to that experienced during pregnancy

Treatment

1. Watchful waiting: the best way to cure painless cyst is just to wait and watch. You should regularly examine yourself to see if the size is increasing or decreasing. If every thing goes right then there is no need of any treatment.
2. Surgery: if the cysts increase in size and also have pain then a surgery is needed to treat them. There is  two type of surgery available
• Laparoscopy: If the cyst is small your doctor may perform laparoscopy. A small anesthesia is needed. A very small incision is made above or below the navel. An instrument which works as microscope is inserted inside the abdomen. If the cyst is small it is easily removed.
• Laparotomy: If the cyst is large and look auspicious then laparotomy may be used. This procedure involves making bigger incisions in the stomach to remove the cyst.