Summary. Cysts are abnormal, fluid-filled sacs that can develop in tissues in any part of the body. They are relatively common, and there ...WhattoknowaboutcystsMedicallyreviewedbyDebraSullivan,Ph.D.,MSN,R.N.,CNE,COI—WrittenbyTimNewman—UpdatedonJune9,2020PicturesCausesBenignandmalignantSymptomsTypesTreatmentSummaryCystsareclosedcapsuleorsac-likestructures,typicallyfilledwithaliquid,semisolid,orgaseousmaterial,muchlikeablister.Cystsvaryinsizefrommicroscopictoverylarge.Verylargecystscandisplaceinternalorgans.Themajorityarebenign,butsomecystscanbecancerousorprecancerous.Acystisnotanormalpartofthetissuewhereitislocated.Ithasadistinctmembraneandisseparatedfromnearbytissue.Theouter(capsular)portionofacystiscalledthecystwall.Ifthesacisfilledwithpus,thecystisinfectedandwillturnintowhatiscalledanabscess.Thisarticlelooksatthedifferenttypesofcyst,theircausesandsymptoms,andsometreatmentoptions.PicturesWhatcausescysts?Cystsarecommonandcanoccuranywhereonthebody.Theyareoftenaresultofinfection,cloggedsebaceousglands,orpiercings.Someothercommoncausesofcystsinclude:tumorsgeneticconditionsafaultinanorganofadevelopingembryoadefectinthecellschronicinflammatoryconditionsblockagesofductsinthebodythatcausefluidstobuildupaparasiteaninjurythatbreaksavesselInmostcases,itisunusualforcyststocausepainunlesstheyrupture,becomeinfected,orareinflamed.BenignandmalignantcystsMostcystsarebenignanddevelopduetoblockagesinthebody’snaturaldrainagesystems.However,somecystsmaybetumorsthatforminsidetumors.Thesecanbemalignant,orcancerous.Cystsarenotthesameastumors.Learnabouttumorsvs.cystshere.SymptomsofcystsThesignsandsymptomswillvarywidelydependingonwhattypeofcystitis.Inmanycases,apersonfirstbecomesawareofanabnormallump,particularlywhenthecystisjustbeneaththeskin.Manyinternalcysts,suchasthosethatoccurinthekidneysortheliver,maynotcauseanysymptomsatall.Theymaygounnoticeduntilanimagingscan—suchasanMRI,CT,orultrasoundscan—detectsthem.Ifacystdevelopsonthebrain,itcancauseheadachesandothersymptoms.Breastcystscanalso