THE 9 MAIN TYPES OF CYSTS - GEOGRAFÍA - 2024

The types of cysts can be classified into ganglion, ovarian, testicular, vaginal, breast, squamous, trichilemmal, kidney and Baker. The word cyst has a Greek origin and its meaning is bladder.

According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, a cyst is defined as a membranous bladder or a bag of tissue that develops abnormally anywhere in the body, both outside and inside.

Cysts can contain liquid substances or disturbed matter, but they can also contain air. The causes of cysts can be very varied. They can be caused by infections, by parasites or even by abnormalities in embryonic development in the case of pregnancy. However, they can also appear spontaneously.

Cysts can appear almost anywhere on the body. However, there are more common places than others. Depending on their location they are classified in different ways.

Classification of types of cysts

Ganglion

This is a type of skin cyst. These are non-cancerous masses that can appear suddenly and grow rapidly. They generally appear in the tendons, in the joints of the wrists and hands, in the ankles and even in the feet. Regarding the liquid they contain, this is usually gelatinous.

Ganglion cysts are round or oval in shape. The size may vary. Some can be as small as a pea, but others can be as small as 1 inch in diameter. Depending on their location, they can affect joint movement and can be tender to the touch, although they are generally painless.

The exact reasons why this type of cystic tumor forms is not known. But they tend to appear more regularly in people between the ages of 15 and 40. Also, women are more likely to develop them than men.

Ovarian

This is one of the most common types of cysts, especially in women who are of reproductive age. These are fluid-filled sacs that are located in or on the ovary.

This type of cyst usually forms during ovulation, specifically at the time the ovary releases an egg. Most women usually develop them at some point in their life.

This type of cyst is usually benign and goes away on its own. Most of them are small and have no symptoms. However, if they do occur, the most common are pressure, abdominal swelling, bloating, late period, and pain in the lower abdomen.

Within this type of cyst we can find other varieties: functional ones, which are subdivided into follicular and corpus luteum; the dermoids; cystadenomas; and those of the endometrioma type.

Testicular

It is an abnormality that is generally benign. These cysts usually appear from embryological age and birth. At first they are so small that they are imperceptible, but as the child grows, they do too. Inside they have spermatic fluid.

There are two types of testicular cysts. The most common are epididymal cysts, which are located in the upper and posterior part of the testicle. These benign tumors are of unknown origin, painless, and in the form of regular swellings.

Dermoid cysts of the testicle are the second type of testicular cyst. They are rare, are round in shape and can be of different sizes.

Vaginal

The vagina is another part of the body that is susceptible to the appearance of cysts. It is a closed cavity or pocket of tissue that appears on or below the lining of the vagina.

This abnormal lump may contain pus, fluid, air, or another substance. These cysts are formed by the obstruction of a duct, which prevents the normal fluidity of the fluid that passes through it.

As for its size, it may vary. It can be so small that it is barely noticeable or it can be the size of a tennis ball. They are usually benign and without symptoms.

There are several types of vaginal cysts. One of them is the Gartner cysts, known as such because they form in the duct of the same name. They are activated during pregnancy, but they usually disappear once you give birth.

Müllerian cysts are another type of abnormality that usually appears in women who are near menopause. And there are also Bartholin's cysts, so called because they form in the Bartholin's glands, which are glands located on the sides of the vagina.

Mammary

This is perhaps the most common type of cyst in women between the ages of 40 and 60. These are fluid-filled sacs that grow inside the breasts.

Regarding its size, it can vary so much that it can be smaller than a pea or as large as a ping pong ball. On the other hand, they can develop singly or together, which means that a woman can have one or many of these cysts at the same time.

This type of cyst is part of the breast constitution of some women, so there is no way to avoid its appearance. These lumps can be asymptomatic, but they can also cause breast pain.

This happens because the cyst reaches a size by distention of the capsule. It is worth noting that the lump can change in size as a result of the menstrual cycle.

Breast cysts can be solid benign or cystic lumps. In the latter case, they differ depending on the element that proliferates. Therefore, they can be classified as fibroadenomas, Phyllodes tumor, hamartoma, adenoma, lipoma, hemangioma, leiomyoma, neurofibroma.

Epidermoid

This cyst, also known as an epidermal, keratin cyst, epidermal or sebaceous inclusion cyst, is an intradermal or subcutaneous tumor with benign characteristics. Despite the names it is given, this type of cyst does not contain fat inside but rather keratin.

They are firm, raised and rounded lumps. They grow slowly and can reach between 1 and 5cm in diameter. It usually appears spontaneously on the face, neck, scalp, trunk, and genital lips of women.

These cysts consist of a thin layer of squamous epithelium and usually appear under the skin. They are generally asymptomatic.

Trichlolemic

It is the most common type of skin cyst after epidermal. In this case smooth nodules are formed, which are firm and have a rounded shape.

Its size can vary between 0.5 and 5 cm. This lump contains a substance that in this case is very dense and yellowish keratin. Its texture is usually more solid than that of epidermoid cysts.

The origin of this type of cyst is unknown and appears in middle-aged people. They are more common in women than in men. And they are usually located on the scalp.

These lesions are usually asymptomatic and do not need treatment. In case of symptoms and if the patient so wishes, the solution is surgical excision.

Renal

These are pockets of fluids that develop in the kidneys. Most of these cysts are of the simple type, which have a thin wall and contain a watery fluid that is not usually pus or blood but water.

With regard to size, they are usually small, although there are cases in which they become quite large.

Kidney cysts are common in the elderly. Therefore, it is normal for them to appear after the age of 50, although they can also appear earlier but the probabilities are lower.

They grow little by little, and usually have no symptoms or damage. However, if treatment is required, there may be fever, pain or discomfort between the ribs and pelvis, pain in the upper abdomen, and blood in the urine.

From Baker

This type of cyst, also known as a popliteal or synovial cyst, is a soft lump that usually appears on the back of the knee. It has a smooth appearance and can sometimes be mistaken for a blood clot.

This anomaly occurs as a result of a swelling in the knee that can be caused by direct damage to this part of the body, by arthritis, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid, as well as by inflammation.

This cyst develops in these cases because when there is damage to the knee, it produces more fluid. There may be some pain, but usually the discomfort comes from the main damage.

That is, because of the damage caused by the cyst. Beyond surgical treatment, there are some other treatments to treat this injury such as resting and elevating the leg, placing ice and anti-inflammatory medications, going to physical therapy, draining the cyst with a needle, and injection of steroids.

References

1. Online Royal Spanish Academy Accessed January 11, 2017.
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3. Ovarian cysts / Medical Encyclopedia / MedlinePlus Accessed January 11, 2017.
4. Types of cysts, malignant or benign? / Natale, Latin American Fertility Center Accessed January 11, 2017.
5. Testicular cysts - Causes, diagnosis and treatment / MSC Accessed January 11, 2017.
6. Vaginal cysts / Medical Encyclopedia / MedlinePlus Accessed January 11, 2017.
7. Breast Cysts / Sutter Health CPMC Accessed January 11, 2017.
8. What are benign breast cysts like? / Infosalus Accessed January 11, 2017.
9. Epidermoid cyst / Daily dermatology blog Accessed January 11, 2017.
10. Infundibular Cyst, Trichlolemic Cyst, Lipoma / Foundation of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Accessed January 11, 2017.
11. Kidney cysts / Medical Encyclopedia / MedlinePlus Accessed January 11, 2017.
12. Renal Cysts / RadiologyInfo for Patients Accessed January 11, 2017.
13. Baker's Cyst or Popliteal Cyst / Cleveland Clinic Accessed January 11, 2017.