Cysts on upper back: Epidermoid Cysts of the Skin

31.05.202126.07.2023 by alexxlab

Содержание

Epidermoid Cysts of the Skin

ABOUT

CAUSES
DIAGNOSIS

TREATMENT

NEXT STEPS

What are epidermoid cysts?

Epidermoid cysts are typically harmless, slow-growing bumps under
the skin. They often appear on areas with more hair such as the scalp, face, trunk,
upper back, or groin area. These cysts can range in size from ½ inch to several
inches across. Some may have an enlarged pore in the center of them. They are the
most common type of skin (cutaneous) cyst.

Epidermoid cysts are sometimes called epidermal cysts. They are
also called sebaceous cysts. But a sebaceous cyst is different from an epidermoid
cyst. They are also less common. True sebaceous cysts start in the sebaceous gland.
This is an oil gland in the skin that produces (secretes) an oily substance called
sebum. Sebum lubricates the skin to help keep it healthy.

Epidermoid cysts can remain stable. Or they may steadily grow.
Sometimes they will become inflamed, red, painful, or suddenly break open (rupture).
This poses a risk for infection.

What causes epidermoid cysts?

Your skin has several layers. The thin, protective outer layer of
skin is called the epidermis. The cells that make up the outermost layer slowly shed
and are replaced as newer cells move to the skin’s surface.

Most epidermoid cysts are caused when skin (epidermal) cells move
under the skin surface, or are covered over by it instead of shedding. These cells
continue to multiply, like skin does normally. They then form a wall around
themselves (cyst) and secrete normal skin fluids (keratin). This is a thick, yellow
substance that may drain from the cyst. This may be developmental. But it often
happens because of an injury to the skin.

Epidermoid cysts are often found around hair follicles. These
follicles are like cysts, but they have openings. Normal lubricating oils for your
hair are sent out through these openings. A cyst occurs when an opening becomes
blocked or the site inflamed. This often occurs when there is damage to the hair
follicles by a scrape or wound.

What are the symptoms of epidermoid cysts?

Symptoms of an epidermoid cyst may include:

Feeling a lump just beneath the skin
It may be painful
The cyst may smell bad
The cyst may become inflamed or red
The cyst may leak fluid or thick material

The symptoms of epidermoid cysts may look like other skin
conditions. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How are epidermoid cysts diagnosed?

A healthcare provider can often diagnose an epidermoid cyst by
examining the cyst. A tissue sample (scraping dead skin) can be taken and looked at
under a microscope.

How are epidermoid cysts treated?

Epidermoid cysts often go away without any treatment. If the cyst
drains on its own, it may return. Most cysts don’t cause problems or need
treatment. But if a cyst is a concern to you for any reason, see your healthcare
provider. Epidermoid cysts can be treated by simple surgery (excision) with removal
of the cyst and cyst wall.

What are possible complications of epidermoid cysts?

Epidermoid cysts may go away on their own. The cysts are often not
painful, unless they become inflamed or infected. An epidermoid cyst that is
inflamed can be injected with steroids. This can reduce inflammation and the cyst
may not need to be drained.

But infected cysts may need to be cut and drained. To do this,
your provider makes a hole in the top and removes what is inside. Large cysts can
come back after this procedure and may have to be surgically removed (excised). If
a
cyst becomes swollen, tender, large, or infected, treatment may include antibiotics
and then surgery.

Can epidermoid cysts be prevented?

There is no known way to prevent epidermoid cysts. But you can
prevent possible infection and scarring if you don’t squeeze, pop, stick a needle
in
it, or cut it open. This often leads to an infection and scarring. If it gets
severely inflamed or infected, you should get medical care.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these
occur:

Swelling, redness, or pain
Pus coming from the cyst

Key points about epidermoid cysts

Epidermoid cysts are typically harmless, slow-growing bumps
under the skin.
They often appear on areas with more hair such as the scalp,
face, trunk, upper back, or groin area.
Epidermoid cysts often go away without any treatment. If the
cyst drains on its own, it may return.
Most cysts don’t cause problems or need treatment. They are
often not painful, unless they become inflamed or infected.
If a cyst is a concern to you for any reason, see your
healthcare provider. It can be removed through simple surgery.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare
provider:

Know the reason for your visit and what you want to
happen.
Before your visit, write down questions you want
answered.
Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and
remember what your provider tells you.
At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and
any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions
your provider gives you.
Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how
it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.
Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the
results could mean.
Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have
the test or procedure.
If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date,
time, and purpose for that visit.
Know how you can contact your provider if you have
questions.

Medical Reviewer: Michael Lehrer MD

Medical Reviewer: Marianne Fraser MSN RN

Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN

Spinal Cysts | Johns Hopkins Medicine

What are spinal cysts?

Ganglion and synovial cysts are benign lumps caused by a buildup of fluid in a tendon sheath or joint capsule. They most commonly show up on the top of the wrist, but may also affect the feet or the spine.

What are the symptoms of spinal cysts?

Depending on the size and location of the cyst, symptoms may be similar to those of spinal stenosis, including:

backache
radicular (“pinched nerve”) pain on one or both sides
neurogenic claudication (pain or weakness due to compressed nerves)
numbness
difficulty moving
diminished reflexes
paralysis (very rare)
change in bowel or bladder function

What are the risk factors for spinal cysts?

Spinal cysts are more common in people over the age of 50. The cause of spinal cysts is unknown, but they may result from degeneration and instability of the spine in areas subjected to repetitive motion, particularly the joints in the lumbar region. Patients with spinal cysts may have other degenerative conditions of the spine, such as arthritis and disk disease.

Spinal Cyst Diagnosis

For a patient reporting symptoms, a doctor may recommend an X-ray to rule out other problems, but the cyst is usually found through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cyst will clearly appear as a bubble-like growth near a facet joint, which is a connection between vertebrae of the spine.

Knowing the cyst’s size and position will help the doctor develop a treatment plan.

Spinal Cyst Treatment

Conservative treatment may include rest, anti-inflammatory medications, painkillers, steroid injections and drainage. Though these approaches may temporarily relieve the symptoms, cysts may reform or refill, resulting in further discomfort.

Surgery may be recommended for persistent cysts that cause pain and impaired movement. There are several surgical approaches to removing a cyst and preventing recurrence. Patients should discuss the options with their spine surgeon for guidance on what’s most likely to provide lasting relief.

Comparing Surgical Approaches to Treat Spinal Synovial Cysts

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Spinal Cord Tumor Overview

Spinal cyst removal (facet joints)

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Surgery to remove a spinal cyst is considered the only effective method of treatment at advanced stages of the disease, when it comes to paraarticular synovial cyst of the intervertebral facet joint. As a rule, this condition is accompanied by pain in the arm or leg, sometimes with numbness. In some medical cases, the pain syndrome is so unbearable that the patient may need emergency spinal surgery.

Cyst of the intervertebral (facet) joints is a benign formation in the cavity of which fluid accumulates. Over time, it increases in size and causes severe pain. Experts classify a spinal cyst as a rare pathology, but recommend not to start the disease and seek help from neurosurgeons in time if symptoms are present.

Spinal cyst symptoms

Depending on the location of the cysts of the spine can be divided into:

Cysts in the cervical spine;
Cysts in the thoracic spine;
Cysts in the lumbar spine;
Cysts in the lumbosacral spine;
Cysts in the sacral spine.

According to the nature of education, specialists distinguish the following types:

Perineural cyst of the spine (usually an incidental finding and does not require treatment)
Para-articular cyst (para-articular synovial cyst of the intervertebral facet joint, requires spinal surgery)
Arachnoid cyst (very rare)

According to experts, there are dozens of varieties of spinal cysts, most of which are considered the norm . Surgical treatment is indicated for a paraarticular synovial cyst of the intervertebral facet joint if radicular compression symptoms are observed. In practice, this means that the patient suffers from regular pain in the localization of the cyst of the spine and in the limbs. Often, the discomfort is accompanied by numbness in the arm or leg. If the pain becomes unbearable, then emergency surgery is recommended.

Spinal cyst treatment

The most modern method for diagnosing spinal cysts is MRI. It is worth noting that in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to take a picture of 1.5 Tesla. Most cysts do not cause discomfort, so patients live with them for years. Conservative treatment by a neurologist is indicated for back pain with a perineural cyst of the spine. To eliminate the pain syndrome, specialists prescribe a course of injections.

Spinal cyst surgery

As already mentioned, most often surgery is indicated for paraarticular synovial cyst of the intervertebral facet joint. Many patients consider laser removal of a spinal cyst to be the most effective method, but neurosurgeons refute the effectiveness of such an operation. When removing a spinal cyst with a laser, a heat wave adversely affects the vertebral discs, destroying them. Therefore, it has already been experimentally proven that the method of removing a spinal cyst with a laser is noticeably outdated.

Endoscopic removal of a cyst of the spine (facet joint)

Minimally invasive endoscopic spinal surgery is performed in case of paraarticular synovial cyst of the intervertebral facet joint if appropriate symptoms are present. Surgical intervention takes place under general anesthesia for 1-1.5 hours. The neurosurgeon performs all manipulations through small punctures, which has a positive effect on recovery.

Recovery after removal of a spinal cyst

After the operation to remove the cyst of the spine, the patient is discharged from the clinic the next day, and he can return to his normal life. Recovery after endoscopic spinal surgery does not involve bed rest, but it is worth limiting yourself to lifting weights and playing sports.

Why is it worth having an operation to remove a spinal cyst in the Pirogov Clinic?

Neurosurgeons of the highest category, with more than 10 years of experience, with a scientific degree of med. Sciences.
Modern equipment in operating rooms.
Affordable prices for the removal of a cyst of the spine.
Positive feedback about spinal surgery and treatment in our clinic. You can view them on our website, as well as on independent sites, such as Napopravku.ru.
Hospital type wards.
You can get a neurosurgeon’s recommendation on the treatment of your disease absolutely free of charge. You can send MRI images on this page of the site.
The possibility of obtaining an installment plan or a loan for treatment.
Service under VHI policies.

WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR OCCASION? SEND YOUR MRI IMAGES

How to describe your complaints correctly:

Describe in detail: the nature and localization of pain; the presence and localization of numbness and weakness in the limbs; conditions for the onset or intensification of pain; the presence of morning stiffness in the back; whether there is relief after “pacing”; whether the pain gets worse after prolonged sitting or standing; what worries more pain in the back / neck or leg / arm, it is desirable to evaluate both on a 10-point scale; whether the pain increases after flexion-extension; Is there relief after rest? whether there is an increase / increase in weakness / numbness in the legs after walking a certain distance with relief after stopping and bending or sitting down; is there a temperature; Is there an increase in pain at night and so on.
Medical history: duration of the disease, provoking factors, what you attribute the onset of the disease to, the treatment being carried out, the dynamics of the condition.
Presence of other diseases.
What hinders you the most? what would you like to get rid of? What are your expectations from the operation, if it is necessary?

How to send MRI images correctly

MRI images (not a doctor’s report, but images) must be on a disk, made on a device with a magnetic field voltage of at least 1.5 Tesla.

Insert disc into CD-ROM.
Copy folder with pictures in one file ENTIRELY to computer (right mouse button).
Name the copied file with your last name.
Add file to archive (right mouse button).
To upload MRI images (DICOM files), use an external cloud storage, such as Yandex Disk, Dropbox or Google Drive. Paste in the field above the link to the file or archive from the cloud storage.

Your images will be sent to our neurosurgeon Mereji Amir Mratovich.

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types, causes, main symptoms, plan of action

A cyst is an abnormal cavity in tissues in which fluid, air or other contents accumulate. Cysts can form almost anywhere in the body and even under the skin. There are many different types of cysts. Fortunately, most of them are benign and do not pose a danger to life if contacted by a specialist in a timely manner.

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Skin diseases

The editors warn readers against self-treatment and do not recommend self-diagnosis, prescribing medications and procedures. For any signs of malaise, contact your doctor.

The first question that arises when a cyst is found is what to do with it – treat it, remove it, or something else? Treatment of a cyst depends on a number of factors:

type of cyst;
its location;
whether it causes pain or discomfort;
whether the cyst is inflamed or infected.

Types of cysts

Depending on the appearance, location and specifics, different types of cysts are distinguished. Here are 11 of the most common types.

Epidermal cyst

An epidermal cyst is a small, slow growing, benign cyst, most often on the face, head, neck, back, or genitals. It usually occurs due to the accumulation of keratin under the skin.

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Neoplasm looks like a dense yellowish-brown or yellowish tubercle.

If an epidermal cyst is inflamed or infected, it may become red and painful.

Sebaceous cyst (or atheroma)

Atheroma occurs on the face, neck or trunk. Usually, its occurrence is provoked by trauma or damage to the sebaceous glands, for example, as a result of cuts or surgical wounds. A large sebaceous cyst can cause discomfort and pain. It grows very slowly in size and does not pose an oncological danger.

Breast cyst

Most breast lumps (such as cysts) are not cancerous, but there are many possible causes for them to appear in the breast.

In addition to the importance of breast self-exams, it is also important to know how your breasts usually feel so that you can be aware of changes as soon as something starts to alert you.

See a doctor immediately if:

you have a lump that was not there before;
one area of the chest has become noticeably different from the rest;
cyst changes or enlarges;
you notice a discharge from your nipple;
The nipple is constantly retracted, although it was not so before.

Ganglion cyst

Ganglion cyst is a round, mucus-filled lump of tissue that usually appears along tendons or joints, especially on the hands, wrists, ankles, and feet. Fluid buildup can occur due to injury or overuse, but can also occur without them.

A ganglion cyst is common, harmless, and does not cause pain or problems unless it grows and puts pressure on adjacent tissues and tendons.

Pilonidal cyst

Pilonidal cyst is a common skin disease that develops in a cleft in the upper part of the buttocks. This usually happens after puberty. Pilonidal cysts are thought to be caused by a combination of hormonal changes, hair growth, and clothing friction.

A cyst consists of a small hole or tunnel in the skin that can become infected and filled with fluid or pus.

Signs of infection include:

pain when sitting or standing;
red or inflamed skin around the cyst;
pus or blood from an abscess;
tumor;
hair protruding from the lesion.

Ovarian cyst

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on one or both ovaries. They may develop as a normal part of the reproductive cycle or be pathological. Ovarian cysts may be asymptomatic or painful.

Symptoms include:

abdominal distention or swelling;
sore bowels;
pelvic pain before or during the menstrual cycle;
painful intercourse;
back or hip pain;
breast tenderness;
nausea;
vomiting.

Severe symptoms such as sudden sharp pelvic pain, fever, fainting or dizziness are signs of a ruptured cyst or ovarian torsion. Call an ambulance immediately if this happens to you.

Baker’s cyst (popliteal)

Baker’s cyst is a fluid-filled, inflamed intertendon sac that causes swelling at the back of the knee. It can be caused by arthritis, cartilage damage, or overuse.

Symptoms:

pain – mild to severe;
pressure, discomfort;
limited range of motion of the joint;
swelling behind the knee;
bruise on knee and lower leg;
cyst rupture.

Baker’s cyst often does not require treatment and goes away on its own.

Pilar cyst

This is a benign growth that develops under the skin in the hair follicle. It most often occurs on the scalp.

This type of cyst is caused by the accumulation of protein in the hair follicle. The cyst is usually painless, firm, smooth, and slowly growing.

Mucous cyst (mucocele)

A mucosal cyst is a fluid-filled swelling that occurs on the lip or mouth.

It develops when the salivary glands of the mouth become clogged with mucus. It is usually caused by trauma to the oral cavity (lip biting, piercings, and damage to the salivary glands). Mucous cysts are small, soft, pinkish or bluish nodules.

Gill Fissure Cyst

Gill Fissure Cyst is a congenital anomaly. In this type of disorder, the tumor develops on one or both sides of the neck or below the collarbone. This occurs during embryonic development, when the tissues of the neck and collarbone or gill slit develop differently.

Most gill cysts are harmless. However, it can cause skin irritation, skin infection or, in very rare cases in adults, cancer.

Perineural cyst

Perineural cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms on the spine. Its exact cause is not known, but it may be due to a back injury. Types of injury associated with this cyst include falls, bruises, and heavy loads.

Symptoms may include pain in the lower back, buttocks, or legs.

Pseudocysts

Pseudocysts share some characteristics with cysts, but usually do not have their own sheath. There are three types of pseudocysts.

1. Folliculitis (inflammation of one or more hair follicles)

Folliculitis describes a category of skin conditions that cause inflammation of the hair follicle and are usually contagious. Folliculitis is common in people who shave, wax, or use other hair removal methods.

Folliculitis presents as pimples under the skin that may be red, white, or yellow, with or without visible hair in the center.

Ingrown hair cysts may become infected and appear red, warm, and painful to the touch.

2. Chalazion

A chalazion is a small, usually painless lump or swelling on the upper or lower eyelid. Chalazion is caused by blockage of the sebaceous gland.

A chalazion may be red, swollen, and painful if an infection is present.

3. Cystic acne

Cystic acne is the most severe type of acne that develops when bumps form deep under the skin. This can be the result of a combination of hormonal changes, bacteria, buildup of oil and dry skin cells that get trapped in the pores.

Cystic acne may occur on the face, chest, neck, back and arms. Large, painful, pus-filled bumps and nodules may develop that rupture and leave scars. They may appear red or flesh-colored depending on skin tone.

How to recognize a cyst?

The cyst may look like a bump on the skin or feel like a small lump under the skin. Some cysts grow deep inside the body where they cannot be felt. But they can cause pain or other symptoms.

For example, ovarian cysts resulting from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause ovarian and reproductive problems.

Why do cysts and pseudocysts form?

Cysts and pseudocysts form for various reasons. They can be caused by:

infections;
hereditary diseases;
genetic causes;
chronic inflammations;
blockages in the ducts.

There are hundreds of different types of cysts and pseudocysts. They can form and grow almost anywhere in the body. Some cysts occur as a manifestation of an underlying disease, such as polycystic ovaries.

Treatment of a cyst

Never try to squeeze or open a cyst or pseudocyst yourself. This can lead to infection. In some cases, the cyst will go away on its own, but most likely you will need the help of a doctor – at least to determine what kind of cyst it is.

After determining the type of cyst, the doctor may puncture it and apply a drainage compress. May prescribe medication to reduce inflammation. Perform surgical removal of the cyst (if drainage does not work or if it is an internal cyst).

In general, benign cysts and pseudocysts do not usually cause long-term problems. Sometimes they even go away on their own.

Cysts may re-form after drainage. If this occurs, the cyst may need to be surgically removed.

How to prevent a cyst?

Most types of cysts and pseudocysts cannot be prevented.