It is quite scary to find a lump under your skin, and your thoughts run to one place: the development of cancer. However, not all lumps are cancerous. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a cyst and a tumor, but key factors help differentiate between them.
A cyst or tumor can both develop in the same places in the body, which makes it difficult to differentiate between them. For instance, you can have a cyst or a tumor in the ovaries. This article discusses the key differences between a tumor and cyst, their causes, and available treatments. Let’s begin.
What are Cysts and Tumors?
Cysts and tumors are defined as common forms of lumps. A cyst appears like a small cyst that gets filled with fluid, air, or other material. On the hand, a tumor is defined as an unusual development of extra tissue. Cysts and tumors can develop in the tissue, skin, bones, or ataşehir escort organs.
Difference between Tumor and Cyst
A few things differentiate a tumor from a cyst. Most often, these differences are not identifiable just by looking. Some things that can tell the two kinds of lumps apart are that a tumor is fast-growing as opposed to a cyst, and it is firm.
On the other hand, a cyst is red and swollen, it can have a white, yellow, or green discharge, it is tender and can move around under the skin, and most are noncancerous.
Causes of Cysts
There are several kinds of cysts that can develop due to different causes. For example, polycystic ovary syndrome (POS) appears due to an underlying medical condition. Other kinds of cysts can develop when dead skin skills don’t fall off and instead multiply.
Following are some of the common causes of cysts:
- Having hair follicles with clogged ducts
- An injury or irritation affecting the hair follicle
- Ovulation
- Degeneration of connective joint tissue
Some kinds of cysts and their causes are discussed below:
Breast Cysts: Breast cysts can be moved under the skin and are filled with fluid. These develop due to a medical condition known as fibrocystic breasts.
Renal Cysts: These develop in the kidneys.
Pilar Cysts: Pillar cysts grow at the bottom of hair follicles in cells. They often develop on the scalp and contain keratin.
Hepatic Cysts: These cysts develop in the liver.
Causes of Tumor
Tumors are caused by abnormal cell growth in our bodies. Our cells in the body grow and divide into new cells that replace the old ones as they die. When this process breaks down, and the older cells do not die and get replaced, tumors form in our bodies. New cells keep forming when the body doesn’t need them, and the older ones don’t die.
Tumors can be benign, meaning they stay in the same location and do not spread. However, tumors that spread to the nearby tissues are malignant and can be cancerous. Cancerous tumors that spread to other parts of the body can lead to the development of new tumors.
Diagnosis of Cysts and Tumors
A cyst can be identified through a physical exam, but the most reliable method can be diagnostic imaging. Diagnostic imaging tests can help the doctor identify the severity of the lump and what’s inside it.
Types of diagnostic imaging tests include CT scans, mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRI scans. To get reliable and efficient test results, you need to visit a reliable imaging center for your diagnostic imaging in Elizabeth.
Read more about Ultrasound Or Mammogram: Which Is Better For Breast Scan?
Smooth-looking cysts are usually benign. However, if the lump appears to be solid, it can be benign or malignant. A biopsy is the only way to determine if a lump is cancerous. A biopsy removes a part of the lump surgically and then tested in the lab under a microscope to check for cancerous cells.
Treatment for Cysts and Tumors
Several factors affect the treatment chosen for cysts and tumors. The doctors consider the location, cause of the lump, and whether it is cancerous or not to select the right treatment. Cysts don’t usually require treatment unless they are painful or you don’t like how it looks. It can be removed, or the fluid in the cysts can be drained. However, the cyst can regrow in this case and eventually require complete removal.
If you have developed a benign tumor, it may not need treatment. However, you may undergo surgery if the tumor is causing problems and affecting other areas. On the other hand, if you have developed a cancerous tumor, it will require treatment through radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or surgical removal. Sometimes, a combination of treatments may be needed to treat the tumor.
Warning Signs
It is important to visit your doctor and get a diagnostic imaging test in Elizabeth from a trusted imaging center if you experience the following in a lump you have developed:
- It itches or ruptures
- It is changing color
- It is growing quickly
- It oozes fluid or is bleeding
- It becomes swollen or looks red
All these are warning signs that you must consult with a doctor and get a diagnostic imaging test as soon as possible for the right prognosis.
Bottom Line
Being healthy is essential for functioning well. Our bodies undergo many changes throughout life, and if you feel a lump developing under your skin, it’s best to consult a doctor and get a proper diagnosis. You can get diagnostic imaging in Elizabeth from a trusted and reliable imaging centers such as AQ Diagnostic Imaging Centre, which has high-quality equipment and trained technicians.
It can be difficult to differentiate between cysts or tumors, but your doctor and imaging tests are likely to tell the difference. Once the right diagnosis is made, the best course of treatment can begin allowing you to regain your health.
