Various types of cysts can form or grow in various areas of the body, from the face to the ovaries. Unlike other diseases, cysts often have no known cause and rarely cause symptoms.
Cysts are sacs filled with fluid, gas, or solid material that form anywhere in the body, including the face, scalp, back, arms, legs, and internal organs such as the liver, ovaries, uterus, kidneys, or brain.
Most cysts are generally harmless or noncancerous. However, there are also cysts that can develop into cancer.
Types of Cysts that are Important to Know
There are various types of cysts, as well as how they form. The following are the types of cysts that you need to know:
1. Ovarian cyst
Ovarian cysts are lumps or fluid-filled sacs that grow on the ovaries or ovaries. This condition is quite common among women. Most ovarian cysts are harmless and will go away on their own without special treatment.
Ovarian cysts tend to be asymptomatic. However, if an ovarian cyst grows to a large size and ruptures, it can cause serious symptoms, such as abdominal swelling, fever, fainting, dizziness, rapid breathing, and severe pelvic or abdominal pain.
2. Epidermoid cyst
Epidermoid cysts are benign lumps that can grow on any part of the skin, such as the face, neck, head, back, and genitals. Epidermoid cysts are usually rare. However, in some cases, this type of cyst can be unsightly, painful, or infected.
3. Breast cyst
A breast cyst is a fluid-filled lump that grows in the breast tissue. This type of cyst is generally benign or does not develop into cancer cells. In some cases, breast cysts do not require special treatment, unless the cyst gets bigger and causes pain.
4. Ganglion cyst
Ganglion cysts are benign lumps that appear along a joint. Usually, these cysts grow on the wrist or knuckles. Although rare, ganglion cysts can appear in other places, such as the fingertips, outer knees, ankles, and backs of the feet.
5. Dermoid cyst
A dermoid cyst is an abnormal growth of a sac in the body that contains a variety of tissue structures, such as hair follicles, sweat glands, teeth, and nerve tissue.
Dermoid cysts can appear on the surface of the skin or other organs in the body, such as the spine, brain, sinus cavities, abdominal cavity, and ovaries.
6. Baker's Cyst
A Baker's cyst is a fluid-filled sac that causes a lump to appear behind the knee. The pain from this condition may become worse when the knee is moved frequently.
Baker's cysts are usually caused by an excess buildup of joint lubricating fluid (synovial fluid) in the knee tissue. This condition is triggered by a number of problems with the knee, such as arthritis or tearing of the cartilage in the knee.
In some cases, Baker's cysts are painless and often go unnoticed. However, you should see a doctor immediately if a Baker's cyst causes pain and swelling behind the knee that interferes with activities.
7. Bartholin's cyst
A Bartholin's cyst is a swelling or lump in one or both of the vaginal lubricating glands or Bartholin's glands located on the sides of the vagina. These cysts can form when the gland becomes blocked.
Bartholin's cyst infections can be caused by bacterial infections that cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. Bartholin's cysts can be painful when infected.
8. Kidney cyst
Kidney cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form inside the kidneys. Kidney cysts are divided into 2 types, namely simple kidney cysts and polycystic kidney disease.
The most common type of cyst is a simple kidney cyst. This type of cyst is a benign cyst and does not develop into cancer, and rarely causes serious complications.
Usually, simple kidney cysts cause no symptoms at all. However, symptoms will appear when the cyst grows large enough or has become infected. Symptoms include fever, pain in the back, waist or upper abdomen, frequent urination, and blood in the urine.
Another type of kidney cyst, polycystic kidney disease, is a condition that runs in families and can cause kidney damage. These cysts can cause symptoms such as high blood pressure, back pain, and bloody urine. However, not all sufferers of this disease will experience these symptoms.
In addition to the various types of cysts above, there are various other types of cysts, including epididymal cysts, pancreatic cysts, thyroid cysts, conjunctival cysts, hemorrhagic cysts, mucosal cysts, and pineal cysts.
Although various types of cysts will generally go away on their own, you should still see a doctor if a lump appears on the body. This is done to prevent complications or other more serious health problems and so that the doctor can remove the cyst, if the cyst is dangerous.