Cysts

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

• What is a cyst?
• What are the causes of a cyst?
• What are the types of cysts?
• What are the signs and symptoms of a cyst and how are they diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for a cyst?

Cyst Symptoms and Causes Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR A cyst is a closed sac- or bladder-like structure that is not a normal part of the tissue where it is found. Cysts are common and can occur anywhere in the body in persons of any age. Cysts usually contain a gaseous, liquid, or semisolid substance. Cysts vary in size; they may be detectable only under a microscope or they can grow so large that they displace normal organs and tissues. The outer wall of a cyst is called the capsule. Cysts can arise through a variety of processes in the body, including... Learn about the causes and types of cysts » Top Searched Cyst Terms: sebaceous, ovarian, ganglion, breast, bone, kidney, liver, dermoid, brain

What is a cyst?

A cyst is a closed sac-like structure that is not a normal part of the tissue where it is found. Cysts are common and can occur anywhere in the body in people of any age. Cysts usually contain a gaseous, liquid, or semisolid substance. Cysts vary in size; they may be detectable only under a microscope or they can grow so large that they displace normal organs and tissues. The outer wall of a cyst is called the capsule.

What are the causes of a cyst?

Cysts can arise through a variety of processes in the body, including:

• "wear and tear" or simple obstructions to the flow of fluid,



• infections,



• tumors,



• chronic inflammatory conditions,



• genetic (inherited) conditions, and



• defects in developing organs in the embryo.

What are the signs and symptoms of a cyst and how are they diagnosed?

Sometimes you can feel a cyst yourself when you feel an abnormal "lump." For example, cysts of the skin or tissues beneath the skin are usually noticeable. Cysts in the mammary glands (breasts) also may be palpable (meaning that you can feel them when you examine the area with your fingers). Cysts of internal organs such as the kidneys or liver may not produce any symptoms or may not be detected by the affected individual. These cysts often are first discovered by imaging studies (x-ray, ultrasound, computerized tomography or CAT Scan, and magnetic resonance imaging or MRI). Cysts may or may not produce symptoms, depending upon their size and location.

This is a picture of a skin cyst, one of hundreds of types of cysts.

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