Consultation with health care provider
A lump under your skin or anywhere on or within your body could be a cyst or a cancerous growth. Cysts are common, and most are harmless. Depending on their location, however, they can cause pain and discomfort. When you see or feel any new growths on or in your body, contact your doctor or other health care provider.
Characteristics
An enclosed, saclike structure forming on body tissue is a cyst. Cysts usually contain a liquid, gaseous or semisolid substance. The size varies from microscopic to large enough to cause organ displacement, reports MedicineNet.
Types
There are hundreds of types of cysts, many named after their host body part. Some are true cysts encapsulated by cells secreting fluid. Others are pseudocysts containing no specialized boundary cells.
Sebaceous cysts form within the glands in the skin. Fibrocystic cysts form in the breast. Ovarian cysts are a type of ovarian tumor, which may contain other body tissue as well. A Baker or popliteal cyst forms behind the knee, and ganglion cysts occur on tendons and joints. Chalazions are cysts forming in the eyelid gland. Pineal cysts grow within the brain's pineal gland. Pancreatic cysts contain fluid and are in the pancreas. Tarlov cysts are located in the fused bones at the base of the spine, according to MedicineNet.
Causes
Infection, clogging of glands or obstruction of fluid flow can cause cysts. Cysts can also form around foreign bodies in the skin or develop as a byproduct of tumors, chronic inflammatory conditions, genetic conditions, defects in embryo organ development, and wear and tear. Some parasites cause cysts within muscle, brain, eye, lung and liver tissue.
Signs and Symptoms
Cysts of the skin and the tissues just beneath the skin are usually noticeable. Cysts in the breasts may be detectable through touch. Cysts of internal organs, such as the kidneys and liver, may produce symptoms only when they are large or inconveniently positioned.
Diagnosis
Although it is rare, cysts may be associated with serious infections or malignant tumors. The first discovery of cysts in internal organs is often the result of ultrasound, computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Doctors recommend and order diagnostic tests to determine the presence of a cyst and its cause.
Treatment
The cause, size and location of a cyst determine its treatment. Very large cysts causing symptoms may require surgical removal. Sometimes, however, the simpler procedure of collapsing a cyst by inserting a needle into its cavity and draining the fluid may be all that is necessary. It is important to address the underlying medical condition when a cyst results from treatment for a chronic condition.
If a doctor has concerns that a cyst could be cancerous, standard treatment involves surgical removal, according to MedicineNet. The surgeon also collects the aspirated fluid from the cyst and biopsies the cyst wall to determine whether cancer cells are present.
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