The word cyst comes from the Greek word meaning “pouch.” In medicine, the term describes a membrane-enclosed sac that usually contains air, fluid, or a semisolid material. Several organs, including the kidneys, breasts, and liver, are susceptible to cyst formation. In some instances, these cystic conditions and diseases may be harmful or painful; in others, they can be harmless.

Cysts arise from an assortment of causes and vary in size, often manifesting as an abnormal lump. One common culprit is an infection, such as the bacterial infection that can lead to under-the-skin acne bumps. Cysts may also be the result of an inherited condition, such as cystic fibrosis. In this disease of the mucous glands, a buildup of abnormally thick mucus can lead to scar tissue and cysts in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

Blockages in the body are another cause. For instance, when an overgrowth of glands and tissues in a breast blocks milk ducts, a cyst forms. Because a lump in a breast can also signal cancer, physicians often recommend checking the lump with an ultrasound or needle aspiration (in which a sample of the fluid inside the lump is taken) to confirm whether it’s benign.

Cysts also occur in the ovaries. When a follicle in one of the ovaries fails to break open and produce an egg, it can grow into a cyst. Although most ovarian cysts go away on their own within a few months, some may rupture, leading to sudden, severe pelvic pain.

Because any number of conditions can lead to a cyst, experts recommend seeing a physician if you notice an abnormal lump anywhere in the body.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. About 10 percent of women have polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition involving multiple cysts on the ovaries.
  2. In 2007, an Oklahoma woman had a 93-pound ovarian cyst surgically removed. The cyst was about the size of a beach ball.
  3. Cysts in the breasts often vary in size according to the phases of the woman’s menstrual cycle.