CYSTS

Definition:
A soft fluctuant swelling containing fluid in
a sac lined by epithelium or endothelium
called a cyst
• Derived from Greek word –” Bladder”
• Classification: two types
I. True cysts and false cysts

II. Congenital and acquired cysts

i. True cysts: lined by epithelium or endothelium
- fluid: serous / mucoid
porridge/tooth paste like due to accumulation
of desquamated epithelium with in the
secretion

ii. False cysts/ Pseudo cysts:

a) Exudation cysts: develop from exudation of
fluid and are limited in anatomical spaces
Ex: Pseudopancreatic cyst, vaginal hydrocele
b) Degeneration cyst: develops as degeneration
in the centre of a malignant tumour due to
haemorrhage or ischaemic necrosis
Ex: apopletic cyst ( A pseudocyst of blood
consisting of an intracranial haematoma
surrounded by a layer of organising
granulation tissue, which was linked in older
literature to strokes)
II.
1) Congenital: following are the varieties
a) Sequestration dermoid: this type of cyst
develops at the line of closure of embryonic
clefts due to burial of dermal cells in this
fusion line
- sites: midline of the body(in the neck),
outer angle of orbit(angular dermoid), upper
part of the anterior angle of the
neck(branchial cyst)
 Sub mental
epidermoid cyst Angular dermoid
b) tubulo-embryonic cyst: develop in the tract of
an ectodermal tube
Ex: thyroglossal cyst from thyroglossal duct
c) Cysts of embryonic remnants:
Develops from embryonic tubules/ ducts which
normally disappear
Ex: urachus and vitello intestinal duct
2) Acquired cysts: varieties
a) Retension cyst: develops due to retention of
secretion of gland due to obstruction of its
duct
Ex: sebaceous cyst, mucous cysts of the lips,
cheeks, parotid cysts
b) Distention cyst: develops from distension of
normal acini/ follicles of gland
Ex: ovarian cysts, thyroid cyst
c) Exudation cyst: develops due to exudation of
fluid into an anatomical spaces already lined
by endothelium
Ex: vagianl hydrocele, Pseudo pancreatic cyst

d) Degenerative cysts: develops as degeneration

in the centre of a malignant tumour due to
haemorrhage/ ischemic necrosis

e) Cystic tumours: dermoid cysts of the ovary,

cysto adenoma of the breast
f) Implantation dermoid: develop when
squamous epithelium of the skin is driven in
by a penetrating wound
- Seen in finger, hands/sole of the foot
g) Traumatic cyst: sometimes haemotoma within
the muscles, fascia or subcutaneous tissue
may resolve into a cyst

h) Parasitic cysts: Hydatid cyst developed from

infestation of Tenia Echino coccus
- Mostly seen in the liver or lung