What is a Dermoid cyst?
This is a cyst often found in the ovary. It is a bizarre benign tumor that normally contains a diversity of tissues, including teeth, hair, thyroid, bone, etc. They may be present at birth and might also be found in the skull, face, brain, nasal sinuses or spinal cord.
A dermoid cyst in the brain is very rare and must be remove by a neurosurgeon. If the cyst is in the nasal sinuses the removal is very complicated and usually handled by an ENT surgeon – ears, nose and throat. These cysts if they occur in the spinal cord normally originate in the sinus tract and this type of cyst can become infected.
Dermoid Cyst Symptoms
For these cysts that are in women’s ovaries, the symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Pelvic pain
- Urinary retention
- Menstrual pain worse than normal
- Difficulty urinating
- Abnormal bleeding vaginally
- Dull ache in lower back
- Dull ache in thighs
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Unintentional weight gain
But in the majority of cases, these cysts can produce no symptoms.
There are cases where this type of cyst can grow big enough to apply pressure or twist the ovary. Twisting of the ovary is known as ovarian torsion and compromises the ovary’s blood supply thus constitutes an emergency. This can cause abnormal pain as well as bleeding. A dermoid cyst that is enlarged can also create pain in the pelvic area and pressure on the bladder resulting in urinating difficulties.
There are cases where these cysts can be a very serious condition needing immediately attention in an emergency room. Immediate medical care should be found if you or someone you are with has any severe symptoms including:
- Sudden, severe pain in abdomen
- Uncontrollable vomiting
Children may experience symptoms differently. For instance with neck cysts, symptoms can include a small, usually painless, lump in the mid-line of the neck (in which the skin over the lump can easily be moved). The lump will be skin-colored, or may have a slight tinge of yellow.
In a child, the signs of a dermoid cyst on the neck might look like other neck masses or medical difficulties. Always turn to your child’s physician for a diagnosis.
Dermoid Cyst Causes
This type of cyst is actually a congenital defect – meaning it is present at birth – that happens while the embryo is developing and layers of skin as well as skin structures. . A dermoid cyst has cell walls that are the same as those of the outer skin and may comprise tissues normally present in layers of skin, including hair follicles, sebaceous or skin oil as well as sweat glands. These tissues and glands will secrete their normal substance which will collect inside the cyst causing it to enlarge and grow. Structures such as hair teeth or nerves may also be found inside these cysts.
Dermoid Cyst Treatment
Surgery for Dermoid Cyst
Surgical excision is the choice of treatment for these cysts in any location. In some individuals, surgery needs to be performed extremely carefully due to the need to stop the fatty content of the cyst from spreading to the tissues surrounding it or anatomic structures, particularly if the cyst contains a bacterial infection. The spread of this content can cause foreign body reactions as well as severe complications.
Minimally invasive surgery is successful in removing these cysts from locations that are difficult, for instance the tongue or the floor of the mouth. These are known as intralingual dermoid cysts and can lead to speech or motility defects. After removal normal lingual function is restore and speech problems will be corrected.
Intramedullary, intracranial as well as ovarian dermoid cysts are normally more difficult to treat. Neurosurgical techniques that are sophisticated or gynecologic techniques are needed to remove these cysts and prevent possible complications.
http://www.Symptoms-Causes-treatment.blogspot.com detect diseases at an early stage symptoms, and find out the causes and treatments best suited.
For individuals with dermoid cysts on the forehead and brow, successful endoscopy-assisted surgery has been found with no numbness occurring on the scalp or other complications happening. Another advantage of endoscopy-assisted surgery is the absence of any visible scarring. But possible complications of spontaneous or posttraumatic rupture as well as with surgical procedures have happened.
Medications for Ovarian Cyst
There are several medications used to treat ovarian dermoid cysts and they include:
Oral contraceptives
Birth control pills can regulate the menstrual cycle, stop the formation of follicles that might turn into cysts and in some cases reduce the size of any existing cyst.
Pain relievers
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil) can reduce pelvic pain and narcotic pain drugs can relieve severe pain
Little information is available on how to prevent these cysts in the ovary. Smoking is not found to be a risk factor.
Treatment for Dermoid cyst in children
In children the only treatment is removal by surgery. This is normally done on an outpatient basis meaning the child can go home on the same day.
Prior to surgery your child will be given medicine that makes them sleep without feeling any pain. The surgeon will:
- Make small cut in the skin over cyst
- Remove cyst
- Close the incision
Surgery takes about an hour or less and the child then goes to the recovery room for another hour.
After surgery the child is given pain medication in order to make them comfortable. While at home the parents will need to keep the incision clean and dry while healing. A surgery nurse will teach you how to care for the incision and how to manage pain at home.
About 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, the child will need to see the surgeon for a follow-up visit to make certain that the incision is healing and the child is recovering well.
Dermoid Cyst Pictures
