Cystic tumors and cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can arise in any organ or soft tissue. Most are benign and asymptomatic, but enlargement, infection, or malignant change may produce noticeable signs:
- Painless lump or swelling
A smooth, round, compressible mass under the skin or within an organ; usually mobile and grows slowly. - Local pressure or aching
Dull pain develops when the cyst compresses nerves or adjacent structures, especially if it reaches >3–4 cm. - Sudden sharp pain
Rapid enlargement, hemorrhage into the cyst, or rupture causes acute localized pain sometimes accompanied by bruising. - Change in organ function
Ovarian cysts may lead to menstrual irregularity; pancreatic cysts can cause upper-abdominal fullness or steatorrhea; renal cysts can provoke flank pain or hypertension. - Signs of infection
Warmth, redness, tenderness, fever, and pus formation suggest bacterial contamination requiring drainage and antibiotics. - Emergency features
Torsion (ovary), obstructive jaundice (liver cysts), or airway compression (neck cysts) present with severe pain, vomiting, dyspnea, or jaundice and need urgent intervention. - Possible malignancy indicators
Solid components on imaging, thick septations, irregular walls, rapid growth, or associated weight loss raise suspicion for cystic malignancy and mandate biopsy or surgical removal.
Any new, enlarging, or symptomatic mass should be evaluated with ultrasound or cross-sectional imaging and, if concerning, fine-needle aspiration or excision.
| Symptom | Typical Benign Course | Alarm for Complication/Malignancy |
|---|---|---|
| Swelling | Soft, mobile, slow-growing | Rapid enlargement, fixation |
| Pain | None or mild pressure | Sudden severe or persistent ache |
| Infection | Rare, low-grade | Red, warm, tender, fever |
| Function | Usually preserved | Obstruction, jaundice, torsion |
| Imaging | Thin wall, no solids | Thick septa, solid nodules |
| Systemic | Well, weight stable | Weight loss, night sweats |