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Medical Author:

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Pilonidal cysts facts
• What is a pilonidal cyst?
• What causes a pilonidal cyst?
• Who is at risk for developing a pilonidal cyst?
• What are the signs and symptoms of a pilonidal cyst?
• How is a pilonidal cyst diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for a pilonidal cyst?
• What are the complications of a pilonidal cyst?
• How are pilonidal cysts prevented?
• What is the prognosis for pilonidal cysts?
• Patient Comments: Pilonidal Cyst - Treatments
• Find a local Dermatologist in your town
• Pilonidal Cyst Index

The complications of a pilonidal cyst may include the following:

• Abscess formation
  
  
• Recurrence of the pilonidal cyst
  
  
• Systemic infection (infection that spreads throughout the body)
  
  
• Rarely, squamous cell carcinoma (the development of a form of skin cancer within the cyst)

Good hygiene of the sacrococcygeal area is important to help prevent the development of pilonidal disease and its recurrence if it does develop. Keep the area clean and dry, and either shave or use depilatory creams to keep the area free of hair. Also, try to avoid prolonged sitting or excessive repetitive pressure to the area of the coccyx (tailbone). Weight loss in obese individuals may also help decrease the development and recurrence of pilonidal disease.

Generally speaking, the prognosis for individuals with pilonidal disease is excellent. Recurrence of pilonidal disease, however, is common and is generally estimated to occur in between 40%-50% of individuals.

REFERENCES:

de Caestecker, James. "Pilonidal Disease." Medscape.com. Aug. 24, 2009. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/192668-overview>.

Lanigan, Michael D. "Pilonidal Cyst and Sinus." Medscape.com. Aug. 6, 2009. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/788127-overview>.