1. Introductory remarks
A cyst is a membrane covered growth and is ordinarily formed on the surface of an organ or in empty spaces between muscle and skin tissues. They are considered to be benign until proved otherwise through biopsy and are formed with air, infected fluids and or semi-solid substances as a sebum which is an oily substance secreted by sebaceous glands located in the mammalian skin. Cysts can form anywhere in the body.
2. Causes and symptoms
Cysts could be caused by tumors, an infection, a defect in an organ of a developing embryo, defective cells, chronic inflammation, blocking of the ducks resulting in a buildup of fluids, parasite bites and or arising out of an impact of an injury that breaks a vessel. As already indicated, most of them could be benign but it is those which are tumors and or formed inside tumors could indicate potentially dangerous conditions as for example kerato and dermoid cysts.
There are no uniform symptoms with which one can characterize cysts. However, every one quickly becomes aware of its presence which is normally a lump within or below the skin. In women, a cyst in the breasts could be felt through a physical examination. In addition, it can be felt more obviously because of the pain it creates. Extraordinary headaches could indicate the presence of a cyst in the brain. Other cysts which could have developed in the kidneys or the liver could be detected only by an imaging scan as CAT, MRI, and or ultrasound.
3. Treatment
Given the fact there are a multitude of cysts as Acne Cyst, Arachnoids cyst, popliteal cyst, Bartholdi’s cyst, Breast cyst, Chalazion cyst, Colloid cyst, Dermoid cyst, Ganglion cyst etc etc. it is not within the purview of this article to suggest lines of treatments. While the general levels of treatments may include draining of the cyst through insertion of a needle or catheter into the cavity a prudent medical practitioner would always send the remains to biopsy tests to decide benignancy or malignancy.
4. Concluding remarks
With too many types of cysts it would be difficult to generalize prognosis relating to them. There are too many factors as duration, recurrence, complications that all determine the nature, causes and symptoms of different cysts and hence prediction of the severity, survival rates etc. are beyond the scope of this article. It could be from ordinary to extraordinary.