Health Library

Cysts, Types

Where Can Cysts Occur?

Cysts can occur anywhere on or in your body. Cysts that are often treated in outpatient clinics are “on” your body. That means they are "bumps" and "lumps" you find on the outside of your body, just under the skin. You will see them when you look in the mirror, or feel them when your clothing touches them or when you sit or lean on something that presses on that spot. Fortunately, many of these are not serious, and some even go away without surgery.

Below is a listing of some of the cysts common in children. Most are diagnosed based on the look and feel of the cyst. Sometimes other tests are needed to make a diagnosis.

What is a Dermoid Cyst

A non-cancerous sac that you have at birth but may not see as a bump until later in life.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Dermoid Cyst?

Painless bump; often shows up on your face near your eyebrows, on your scalp, on your chest, or over your collarbone; it may contain fluid, pus, a foreign body or other type of body tissue.

What is the Treatment for a Dermoid Cyst?

Surgery to remove the cyst because it will not go away on its own.

What is a Ganglion Cyst?

Swelling or bump that is on top of a joint or tendon; you usually find it on your hand but may also find it on your knees or feet.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Ganglion Cyst?

Small bump ¼ to 1 ¼ inches; you find it on your hands, knees or feet; it comes and goes; most are painful; pain is worse with movement.

What is the Treatment for a Ganglion Cyst?

May disappear on their own, or your doctor may want to treat it by:

• fluid aspiration (when the doctor uses a needle and syringe to pull some fluid from the cyst)
• surgery to remove the cyst while you are asleep

What is a Lipoma?

Soft tissue mass that feels soft and rubbery; slow growing; harmless

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Lipoma?

You can find a lipoma alone or in groups; it is usually less than two inches in size; you can find them on your shoulders, neck, stomach, chest, back or other places.

What is the Treatment for a Lipoma?

You may not need any treatment; but your doctor may want you to have surgery if:

• your lipoma is growing quickly.
• it is getting very painful.
• the way it looks really bothers you.
• it is pressing on a nerve and causing numbness or changes in feelings around the site.

What is a Pilomatrixoma?

Calcified cyst that you may find on your head, neck, arms or legs; non-cancerous lesion.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Pilomatrixoma?

Small, hard bump under the skin; 1 ¼ inches or less in size usually on your face, head, neck or arms; painless.

What is the Treatment for a Pilomatrixoma?

Your doctor will probably recommend surgery to remove; pilomatrixomas usually do not regrow after surgery.

What is a Pyogenic Granuloma?

Small, red, raised non-cancerous bump or series of bumps on your hands, arms or face; often where you may have had an injury.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Pyogenic Granuloma?

Bumps; you may have some bleeding

What is the Treatment for a Pyogenic Granuloma?

May go away without treatment or you may need surgery; some can be treated by freezing.

What is a Sebaceous Cyst?

Also called epidermoid or pilar cyst; slow growing; painless; thought to come from a blocked hair follicle; you can find it on your face, neck, chest, stomach or back.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Sebaceous Cyst?

Round bump on face, neck, chest, stomach or back; yours may be as little as less than 1/16 of an inch or as large as four inches in size; vary from painless to very reddened and painful; can have drainage that is a cheesy-like, stinky fluid.

What is the Treatment for a Sebaceous Cyst?

If you have pain and swelling, try warm, moist compresses for relief; if your cyst does not go away on its own, your doctor will probably recommend surgery.