Benign Cyst

A benign cyst is a cyst that is not cancerous. A cyst is a sac that has a membrane that separates the nearby tissue. It can be filled with air, fluids, or semi-solid material. The cyst may become infected and filled with pus. The infection can cause lymph nodes to swell if it is left untreated. An infected cyst is called an abscess. Some cysts will not need to be treated and disappear on their own, but others may need to be surgically treated. Treatment will depend on the type of cyst.

Types of Benign Cysts

There are different types of benign cysts. They can be on almost any part of the body. These are some of the types of cysts:

• Cysts on the breasts - fibrocystic breast disease
• Ovarian cysts/dermoid cysts
• Baker (popliteal) cysts-behind the knee
• Ganglian cysts - of joints or tendons
• Chalazion cysts - of eye glands
• Sabaceous cysts - of small glands in skin
• Epidermal cysts - on the face, scalp, neck, and trunk
• Bartholin cysts - small glands near the vaginal opening
• Pineal cysts - pineal gland of the brain
• Pancreatic cysts - in pancreas
• Polycystic cysts - kidney
• Tarlov cysts (meningeal or perineural) - in the sacrum, the fused bones at the base of the spine
• Arachnoid cysts - between one of three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord

A doctor will need to examine and diagnosis a cyst. Lumps on lymph nodes can be a sign that the cyst is infected or may be even cancer. Cysts may resemble a cancerous tumor or an abscess, which are serious medical conditions.

Causes of a Benign Cyst

Obstructions can cause a cyst to develop, like when a gland becomes clogged and fluids cannot drain. Other causes include infection, tumor, genetics, chronic inflammatory disease, and defects present at birth. Sometimes they are caused by a parasite or an impact injury. There isn’t much that can be done to prevent a cyst from developing. Sometimes good hygiene can prevent glands from becoming blocked. A strong immune system will help prevent an infection from developing and a cyst becoming an abscess.

Treating Benign Cysts

A benign cyst may not be treated at all because it may disappear on its own. For a persistent cyst, a cyst that keeps growing, interferes with functioning, or for cosmetic reasons, some cysts may need to be removed with a surgical procedure. It can sometimes be done in the doctor’s office or as an out patient. For larger cysts or cysts that need more extensive surgery, a patient may need to remain in the hospital longer. Some cysts may leave a hole or cavity once it has been removed or drained. A recurrent cyst in a gland may be treated by suturing the gland open so that it can not become clogged. Antibiotics are often prescribed after a cyst is treated to prevent infection.

Most cysts can be easily treated. When a cyst is removed, it will be tested to determine if it is cancerous or not. Due to the risk of cancer, all cysts should be examined by a doctor.