What's the difference between a pilonidal cyst and a sebaceous cyst?

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I had a pilonidal cyst on my tailbone and a sebaceous cyst on my private area. Both were quite painful! How do docs make the distinciton between the two? It seems like both are caused by roughly the same thing, so what is the difference?
"Schwinn" already gave you a pretty good explanation. A pilonidal cyst often but not always develops in the sacral region of the skin. The sacrum is the large, triangular bone that makes up the back of your pelvis. Pilonidal cysts sometimes appear at birth as a depression or a hairy dimple. Usually this type of cyst causes no problems but sometimes a sinus or fistula develops in early adulthood. The sinus or fistula may communicate with the skin and result in infection. A fistula may also develop to the spinal tract.

Sebum is the oily secretion of the sebaceous glands of the skin and is composed of keratin, fat and cellular debris. Sebaceous cyst is the same as an epidermoid cyst. It's benign and is in the skin (epidermis). It contains a cheesy material composed of sebum and epithelial debris.

They can usually be distinguished by location and appearance.  (+ info)

what is the difference between a cyst and a swollen lymph node?

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I have a non-painful lump in my inner thigh. How can I tell if it`s a cyst vs. a swollen lymph node? Especially since I also have a swollen node near my collar bone. Feels about the same shape. I am also not sick at all. How can I tell if it`s just a cyst or if it`s a lymph node?
a cyst is a little pocket which tends to collect infection and when it become inflamed will become painful. a lymp node is part of the lymphatic system which carries interstitial fluid and can become swollen when there's a problem or illness (i.e. infiltration by a foreign antigen.)  (+ info)

What would cause for a ovarian cyst to grow rapidly?

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Just had an ovarian cyst and my left ovary removed in Oct 09. It was about 9cm big. I was cleared by the doctor and everything on the right ovary was fine. What would cause another ovarian cyst to grow within two months to 6cm on the right ovary.
most probably hormones - check in "Ovarian Cysts"- see below  (+ info)

What is a pericardial cyst and how is it treated?

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Recently the Dr. discovered a mass in my 25 year old husband's chest. It was found by accident during a pre-op work up for minor sinus surgery. A cat scan revealed that is is a cystic (fluid filled) mass near the middle of his chest. They do not believe it's cancer at this time, but cannot rule it out either and have mentioned a possible pericardial cyst. I know that it means a cyst in the sac around the heart, but not much else. Also, they said that pericardial cyst that are congenital are often harmless, however my husband had a chest xray last year and it was clear, so they believe the cyst might be 'acquired' and that this means a highler likely hood of something serious. Any information would be great!
The heart is surrounded by two continuous layers of fibrous tissue called the pericardium. A pericardial cyst is a fluid-filled mass within the outer layer of the pericardium.

Pericardial cysts are benign (non-malignant). As in your husband's case, most of them are discovered incidentally (while looking for something else) on chest X-ray or other imaging of the chest area. Most are entirely symptomless, but in around a third of cases, the patient can develop symptoms - typically, chest pain, shortness of breath or coughing.

The diagnosis is usually confirmed with a CT scan (with contrast) of the region. Treatment options include observation (with serial followups), drainage via the skin, or surgical excision. Which route is followed will depend on the cyst itself and on the patient's general state of health.

There are obviously other options for a fluid-filled collection in this region, but most of the confusion can be cleared up with good imaging (e.g. the CT scan above). If I were you, I'd try to wait for further imaging results to come back, and not worry too much (much easier said than done, I know!).

Hope this helps. If you want a more detailed version, I've found this case study on the net: http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/clinicalresources/clinicalcases/article-16.html  (+ info)

Why does a cyst lie dormant for years and then suddenly turn into a pimple/boil?

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I've had a hard little "cyst" on my stomach for a while (well over a year+), a rock hard white lump under the skin about the size of maybe half a pea, i've tried many many times to get it out but it will not budge at all. So, after leaving it alone for months, it's now decided to come to a head! What causes this sudden change?
  (+ info)

What usually happens when you have a cyst on ovary?

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I recently went to the doctor for annual gyno exam. They did a sonogram since I was having reoccuring pain and found a cyst on my right ovary. I have to wait a month to go back for another sonogram! What I want to know is if anyone has had cysts, what happened with them, etc. I've already had a blood test done that ruled out cancer, so I'm not worried about that. The doctor didn't make any assumptions or tell me a lot about it, since it may go away by itself. I just want to be prepared for IF it doesn't go away. Whats more, he told me I shouldn't try to get pregnant til we figure out whats going on with this...I was trying.
The short of it is they may just shrink and pretty much dissapear but i wasnt that lucky i didnt know that i actually had them but i awoke one moring with what felt like contractions i was quite scared and made a call for help saying that i was having contraction pains my dad freaked out but i wasnt even pregnant it just felt like that. I ended up in hospital on two occasions with the same thing the pain was the cyst bursting it was horrible i was on morphine for days some women may not experience that much pain but i sure did all up last year i was in hospital for over two weeks, and they say that im pone to getting them again. During both hospital stays i has a operation called a laproscopic surgery (key hole) that is horrible they fill you stomach with gas so they can fiddle around in there with plenty of room when i came to i felt so sore and bloated and quiet embarrassed as the next few days in hospital i had to relase that gas you know what i mean. I hope i have helped you with you concern but i hope ur not scared as they will more that likely dissapear. Also on the pregnancy thing i would get a second opinion as my cousin had two large cysts on her ovary during her pregnancy.if you have anymore questions plz email me.  (+ info)

How much does it cost to surgically remove a pilonidal cyst?

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How much does it cost to surgically remove a pilonidal cyst?
The surgeon has to apply local Anastassia. It can be removed at the doctors office..
Anyone can give me an approximate cost? I do not have insurance.
Thank you very much. God bless!
I have a child who had this and I did not know it. Well a couple of years later I finally took him to the doctor and the cyst had grown so much that he had to go to outpatient surgery to have it removed. I thought it was only going to cost $5000, more like $12,000. so if yours is still small enough it would be better for you to have it out now if the doctor can do it in his office. Tell the doctor that you do not have insurance and work out a payment plan if you have to, but definitely get it removed now while it's small. My child ended up with 126 stitches on the back side, and you know where it is, so needless to say, my child did not sit well for 2 months.

edit: you can email me if you have any questions about what we went through.  (+ info)

How can the doctor tell the difference between a breast cyst and a tumor?

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My mom's been having pain in her breasts for a long time, and about six months ago a big red bulge showed up on her breast.
The doctor dismissed it as a cyst and didn't do anything.
The redness disappeared, but last week she noticed a lump in her breast, and the doctor finally admitted that it was a little off.


She's been referred to a clinic for a mammogram, but I'm still curious as to how they can tell.
I'm kind of worried.
I'm a doctor. Generally, we can tell based on a physical exam. That is the key. However, despite a relatively normal feeling cyst, some women may go on to develop cancer. Another important factor is the interview with your mom. For instance, if the size and pain vary with her menstrual cycle, or with diet (caffeine, smoking makes it worse)...then it is most likely a cyst (called a fibrocystic disease), however if it is persistent, with persistent increase in size and changes on the skin (redness, retracting skin) then it is exhibiting features that would be more concerning. In that case, I generally get an ultrasound of the breast (in a younger woman b/c it's a better test) and in an older woman I get a mammogram.

You should just wait until you get the results of the test back. I wish your mom the best!  (+ info)

What can be done about a 14cm cyst in the ovary ?

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My mom has a 14cm cyst in the ovary , and the doctors are going to remove it. What can be done about this if she didn't take it out ?
Or does anyone has any experience about this ? Can any safe medication heal a cyst ? Im really curious thanks for the help.
It would be best to remove it. I had a cyst that grew and then got so big that it twisted my ovary and I had to have an emergency surgery to remove not only my cyst but also my ovary

Now I have to take a low dose of birth control to help minimize the risk of a cyst on my other ovary.

I don't think there is any other kind of medicine to get rid of one. Because the cyst is already there...some cysts do come and go but if it is already so large I really would suggest the surgery so she doesn't have a scare like I did!  (+ info)

What is the usual age for Woment to get ovarian cyst?

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I am fourteen years old, and was just in the emergency room a few nights ago, and found out that I had an Ovarian Cyst that ruptured.
So my mom is very curious, as to what the common age is to have them.

Thanks.
i got one when i was 14 and then another when i was 16.. i think once you start having your peiord you can get them  (+ info)

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