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A cyst is a closed sac having a distinct membrane
Biological membrane

A biological membrane or biomembrane is an enclosing or separating amphipathic layer that acts as a barrier within or around a cell . It is, almost invariably, a lipid bilayer, composed of a double layer of lipid-class molecules, specifically phospholipids and cholesterol, with occasional integral membrane protein intertwined, some o...
 and division
Cell division

Cell division is a process by which a cell , called the parent cell, divides into two or more cells, called daughter cells. Cell division is usually a small segment of a larger cell cycle....
 on the nearby tissue
Biological tissue

Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. Hence, a tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function....
. It may contain air
AIR

Air is the part of Earth's atmosphere that humans breath and as such Air .Air may also refer to:...
, fluids, or semi-solid material. A collection of pus
Pus

Pus is a whitish-yellow, yellow or yellow-brown substance produced during inflammatory pyogenic bacteriuml infection. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess....
 is called an abscess
Abscess

An abscess is a collection of pus that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue on the basis of an infection process or other foreign materials ....
 not a cyst. Once formed, the cyst could go away by itself or may have to be removed using surgery.

ite being described in 1938 as involving the microscopic
Microscopic

Microscopic is a term used to describe objects smaller than those that can easily be seen by the naked eye and which require a lens or microscope to see them clearly....
 appearance of cysts in the pancreas cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is a Genetic disorder affecting the exocrine glands of the lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines, causing progressive disability due to multisystem failure....
 is an example of a genetic disorder
Genetic disorder

A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes. While some diseases, such as cancer, are due in part to a genetic disorders, they can also be caused by Environment factors....
 whose name is related to fibrosis of the cystic duct
Cystic duct

The cystic duct is the short duct that joins the gall bladder to the common bile duct. It usually lies next to the cystic artery. It is of variable length....
 and does not involve actual cysts.

cysts in the body are benign
Benign

A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks all three of the malignant properties of a cancer. Thus, by definition, a benign tumor does not grow in an unlimited, aggressive manner, does not invade surrounding tissue , and does not metastasize....
 (functional
Functional

Generally, functional refers to something able to fulfill its purpose or function.* Functional form and functionalism apply to architectural design....
), the result of plugged ducts or other natural body outlets for secretions.






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Encyclopedia


A cyst is a closed sac having a distinct membrane
Biological membrane

A biological membrane or biomembrane is an enclosing or separating amphipathic layer that acts as a barrier within or around a cell . It is, almost invariably, a lipid bilayer, composed of a double layer of lipid-class molecules, specifically phospholipids and cholesterol, with occasional integral membrane protein intertwined, some o...
 and division
Cell division

Cell division is a process by which a cell , called the parent cell, divides into two or more cells, called daughter cells. Cell division is usually a small segment of a larger cell cycle....
 on the nearby tissue
Biological tissue

Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. Hence, a tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function....
. It may contain air
AIR

Air is the part of Earth's atmosphere that humans breath and as such Air .Air may also refer to:...
, fluids, or semi-solid material. A collection of pus
Pus

Pus is a whitish-yellow, yellow or yellow-brown substance produced during inflammatory pyogenic bacteriuml infection. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess....
 is called an abscess
Abscess

An abscess is a collection of pus that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue on the basis of an infection process or other foreign materials ....
 not a cyst. Once formed, the cyst could go away by itself or may have to be removed using surgery.

Locations

  • Acne
    Acne

    Acne is a group of skin rashes that have different causes.* Acne vulgaris - most commonly experienced around puberty, typically of the face and shoulders/chest...
     cyst Pseudocysts associated with cystic acne
    Cystic acne

    Cystic acne, also known as nodulocystic acne, is a severe form of acne wherein acne develops into small cysts. Acne cysts are not true cysts in the sense that they are not abnormal dilations of skin structure, but rather nodules of inflammation....
    . Actually an inflammatory nodule with or without an associated epidermoid inclusion cyst.
  • Arachnoid cyst
    Arachnoid cyst

    Arachnoid cysts are cerebrospinal fluid covered by arachnoidal cells and collagen that may develop between the surface of the human brain and the cranial base or on the arachnoid membrane, one of the three membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord....
     (between the surface of the brain and the cranial
    Cranial

    Cranial may refer to:* cranium* Anatomical terms of location* Cranial Osteopathy...
     base or on the arachnoid membrane)
  • Baker's cyst
    Baker's cyst

    A Baker's cyst, otherwise known as a popliteal cyst, is a benign swelling found behind the knee joint. It is named after the surgery who first described it, Dr....
     or popliteal cyst (behind the knee joint)
  • Bartholin's cyst
    Bartholin's cyst

    A Bartholin's cyst is formed when a Bartholin's gland is blocked, causing a fluid-filled cyst to develop. A Bartholin's cyst is not an infection, although it can be caused by an infection, inflammation, or physical blockage to the Bartholin's ducts ....
  • Breast cyst
    Breast cyst

    A breast cyst appears as a lump the breast, is often painful and may be worrisome but is generally benign. Breast cysts are usually part of Chronic cystic mastitis....
  • Chalazion cyst
    Chalazion

    A chalazion , also known as a meibomian gland lipogranuloma, is a cyst in the eyelid that is caused by inflammation of a blocked meibomian gland, usually on the upper eyelid....
     (eyelid)
  • Crain
    Crain

    Crain may refer to:* Crain , an indie rock band* Crain Communications Inc., an American publishing conglomeratePeople with the surname Crain:...
    's backs
  • Cysticercal cyst
    Cysticercosis

    Cysticercosis, or neurocysticercosis, is the most common parasite infestation of the central nervous system worldwide. Humans develop cysticercosis when they ingest egg or larvae of the tapeworm Taenia solium....
     (the larval stage of Taenia sp.)
  • Dentigerous cyst
    Dentigerous Cyst

    A dentigerous cyst is an odontogenic cyst - thought to be of developmental origin - associated with the crown of an unerupted tooth. The cyst cavity is lined by epithelial cells derived from the reduced Tooth enamel epithelium of the tooth forming organ....
     (associated with the crowns of non-erupted teeth)
  • Dermoid cyst
    Dermoid cyst

    A dermoid cyst is a cystic teratoma that contains developmentally mature skin complete with hair follicles and sweat glands, sometimes luxuriant clumps of long hair, and often pockets of sebum, blood, fat, bone, Nail , teeth, eyes, cartilage, and thyroid tissue....
     (ovaries, testes, many other locations from head to tailbone)
  • Epididymal cyst (found in the vessels attached to the testes)
  • Ganglion cyst
    Ganglion cyst

    A ganglion cyst is a swelling that often appears on or around joints and tendons in the hand or foot. The size of the cyst can vary over time. It is most frequently located around the wrist and on the fingers....
     (hand/foot joints and tendons)
  • Glial cyst (in the brain)
  • Gartner's duct
    Gartner's duct

    Gartner's duct is a potential embryological remnant in human female development of the mesonephric ducts in the development of the urinary and reproductive organs....
     cyst (vaginal or vulvar cyst of embryological origin)
  • Hydatid cyst (larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus (tapeworm))
  • Keratocyst
    Odontogenic keratocyst

    A keratocystic odontogenic tumour, abbreviated KCOT, is a rare and benign but locally aggressive developmental cyst neoplasm. It most often affects the posterior mandible....
     (in the jaws, these can appear solitary or associated with the Gorlin-Goltz or Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
    Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome

    The Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome is an inherited group of multiple defects involving the skin, nervous system, eyes, endocrine system, and bones....
    . The latest World Health Organization
    World Health Organization

    The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health....
     classification considers Keratocysts as tumors rather than cysts)
  • Liver cystic disease
    Polycystic liver disease

    Polycystic liver disease usually describes the presence of multiple cysts scattered throughout the normal liver tissue, in association with Polycystic kidney disease....
  • Meibomian cyst
    Chalazion

    A chalazion , also known as a meibomian gland lipogranuloma, is a cyst in the eyelid that is caused by inflammation of a blocked meibomian gland, usually on the upper eyelid....
     (eyelid)
  • Mucoid cyst (ganglion cysts of the digits)
  • Nabothian cyst
    Nabothian cyst

    A nabothian cyst is a mucus-filled cyst on the surface of the cervix. They are most often caused when stratified squamous epithelium of the ectocervix grows over the simple columnar epithelium of the endocervix ....
     (cervix)
  • Ovarian cyst
    Ovarian cyst

    An ovarian cyst is any collection of fluid, surrounded by a very thin wall, within an ovary. Any ovarian follicle that is larger than about two centimeters is termed an ovarian cyst....
     (ovaries, functional and pathological)
  • Paratubal cyst (fallopian tube)
  • Periapical cyst
    Periapical cyst

    The periapical cyst, otherwise known as radicular cyst, is the most common odontogenic cyst. It is caused by pulpal inflammation or pulp death, secondary to trauma or dental caries....
     (The periapical cyst, otherwise known as radicular cyst, is the most common odontogenic cyst.)
  • Peritoneal cyst (lining of the abdominal cavity)
  • Pilar cyst Cyst of the scalp.
  • Pilonidal cyst
    Pilonidal cyst

    A pilonidal cyst, also referred as a Pilonidal Abscess or as Sacrococcygeal fistula, is a cyst or Abscess near or on the natal cleft of the buttocks that often contains hair and skin debris....
     (skin infection near tailbone)
  • Renal cyst
    Polycystic kidney disease

    The autosomal dominant form of polycystic kidney called ADPKD is much more common but less severe than autosomal recessive polycystic kidney. In 85% of patients, ADPKD is caused by mutations in the gene PKD1 on chromosome 16 ; in 15% of patients mutations in PKD2 are causative....
     (kidneys)
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
    Polycystic ovary syndrome

    Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine disorder that affects approximately 5% of all women.It occurs amongst all races and nationalities, is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, and is a leading cause of infertility....
  • Radicular cyst (associated with the roots of non-vital teeth, also known as Periapical cyst
    Periapical cyst

    The periapical cyst, otherwise known as radicular cyst, is the most common odontogenic cyst. It is caused by pulpal inflammation or pulp death, secondary to trauma or dental caries....
    )
  • Testical cyst
  • Sebaceous cyst
    Sebaceous cyst

    A sebaceous cyst is a closed sac or cyst below the surface of the skin that has a lining that resembles the uppermost part of a hair follicle and fills with a fatty white, semi-solid material called sebum....
     (sac below skin)
  • Tarlov cyst (spine)
  • Trichilemmal cyst
    Trichilemmal cyst

    A trichilemmal cyst, also known as a pilar cyst or wen, is a common fluid-filled growth that forms from a hair follicle; they are most often found on the scalp....
     Same as a pilar cyst. A familial cyst of the scalp.
  • Vocal fold cyst
    Vocal fold cyst

    Vocal fold cysts are collections of fluid in sac-like formations on the vocal folds.Cysts can deteriorate the quality of human Manner of articulation production, causing diplophonia, a condition where the vocal cords produce multiple tones at the same time, or dysphonia, an impaired quality of voice typically involving hoarseness or a breat...


Cystic fibrosis

Despite being described in 1938 as involving the microscopic
Microscopic

Microscopic is a term used to describe objects smaller than those that can easily be seen by the naked eye and which require a lens or microscope to see them clearly....
 appearance of cysts in the pancreas cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is a Genetic disorder affecting the exocrine glands of the lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines, causing progressive disability due to multisystem failure....
 is an example of a genetic disorder
Genetic disorder

A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes. While some diseases, such as cancer, are due in part to a genetic disorders, they can also be caused by Environment factors....
 whose name is related to fibrosis of the cystic duct
Cystic duct

The cystic duct is the short duct that joins the gall bladder to the common bile duct. It usually lies next to the cystic artery. It is of variable length....
 and does not involve actual cysts.

Benign vs malignant

Many cysts in the body are benign
Benign

A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks all three of the malignant properties of a cancer. Thus, by definition, a benign tumor does not grow in an unlimited, aggressive manner, does not invade surrounding tissue , and does not metastasize....
 (functional
Functional

Generally, functional refers to something able to fulfill its purpose or function.* Functional form and functionalism apply to architectural design....
), the result of plugged ducts or other natural body outlets for secretions. However, a few are tumors or are produced within tumors, and are potentially malignant
Cancer

Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cell display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis . These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, do not invade or metastasize....
:

  • Dermoid cyst
    Dermoid cyst

    A dermoid cyst is a cystic teratoma that contains developmentally mature skin complete with hair follicles and sweat glands, sometimes luxuriant clumps of long hair, and often pockets of sebum, blood, fat, bone, Nail , teeth, eyes, cartilage, and thyroid tissue....
  • Keratocyst
    Odontogenic keratocyst

    A keratocystic odontogenic tumour, abbreviated KCOT, is a rare and benign but locally aggressive developmental cyst neoplasm. It most often affects the posterior mandible....


Related structures

A pseudocyst
Pseudocyst

A pseudocyst is a pathological collection of fluid. A pseudocyst may appear to be a true cyst to the naked eye or on a CAT scan. However, it is technically not a cyst....
 is collection without a distinct membrane.

A syrinx
Syrinx (medicine)

In medicine, a syrinx is a rare, fluid-filled neuroglial cavity within the spinal cord or in the brain stem ...
 in the spinal cord or brainstem is sometimes inaccurately referred to as a cyst.

External links

  • by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD and William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR.