Anechoic cyst: what it is, main types and when to worry

An anechoic cyst is a type of cyst whose content is not very dense, and therefore appears black on ultrasound. It is usually formed by liquid or, in the case of cysts in the lung, by gas. Cysts can appear anywhere on the body and often do not cause symptoms, only to be discovered during routine examinations.

When analyzing cysts, it is important to understand whether they are simple or complex cysts. A simple cyst, in addition to being formed only by liquid, has a well-defined wall, and is considered benign. Unlike the simple one, the complex cyst has irregular walls, and is formed by other walls within the cyst itself, creating separate spaces. In addition, the complex cyst may contain other types of solid material or a mixture of solid and liquid materials. These cysts are of most concern and therefore the problem of the simple or anechoic cyst is when it becomes more complex.

Types of anaechoic cysts

There are many types of cysts, such as the ovary, breast, kidney, liver or thyroid. Thus, in the ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis, cysts can be observed in the kidneys and liver, in the gynecological ultrasound, cysts can be seen in the ovaries and in the ultrasound of the breast, cysts can also be seen, as well as in the thyroid ultrasound.

In all of them, it is always important to have a medical evaluation, which can identify the presence of symptoms, monitor whether or not there is growth of the cyst or whether other characteristics are present that can raise more serious suspicions.

1. Anechoic cyst in the ovary

Ovarian cysts most often do not indicate any problem, as they are necessary to develop eggs over the menstrual cycle, and are simple and anechoic cysts, with only a thin wall on the outside and liquid content.

When they grow up, it is usually due to hormonal changes throughout the woman's menstruation, during pregnancy or due to the use of hormonal medications such as the pill. Ovarian cyst alone does not mean pregnancy, but pregnancy can cause cysts due to hormonal changes. Generally, these cysts are benign and disappear spontaneously in a few months, it is only recommended to follow up with the doctor.

However, if the cysts do not disappear, surgery to remove the cyst is an option and is usually indicated when the cyst grows a lot, causing symptoms such as pelvic pain, menstrual changes or difficulty in becoming pregnant, cases in which, sometimes, there is the call polycystic ovary syndrome and that have to be treated. Check out more about how to identify and treat the ovarian cyst.

2. Anechoic cyst in the breast

Anechoic cysts in the breast are common, and they happen due to the accumulation of fluid in the mammary gland, probably due to hormonal changes during the cycle, and are usually benign. For this reason, they frequently appear in women of reproductive age, that is, from 15 to 50 years old, and can also occur after menopause, in women undergoing hormone therapy.

As most breast cysts are simple and therefore benign, they can only be monitored by the doctor and do not require any treatment. But when they grow large, causing pain or discomfort, they may have to be drained to relieve symptoms.

Sometimes, breast cysts can become more complex and therefore have a higher risk of being cancer. In these cases, they must be punctured by the doctor for a better assessment of its content, in order to understand the diagnosis and act accordingly. The ideal is that the person knows the lumps of your breast well, doing the breast self-examination on a routine basis and if you feel that they are harder, less elastic, less mobile, that have grown, or that have other symptoms, consult the gynecologist or mastologist. Understand when the cyst in the breast can become cancer.

3. Anaechoic cyst in the kidney

Kidney cysts are most often simple, anechoic, with thin, smooth walls and with liquid content, and are therefore benign. These cysts are common, have no symptoms and, normally, do not generate any concern, do not need specific treatment and only follow-up by the doctor is indicated.

Sometimes these cysts can become infected, bleed or increase in size, and then cause symptoms such as back pain between the ribs and the pelvis or abdomen, as well as fever or blood in the urine. In such cases, treatment is necessary and the doctor must be consulted quickly for treatment to avoid loss of kidney function.

Other times, cysts can be associated with more serious disorders such as polycystic kidney disease with loss of kidney function or even cancer. This type of cysts is not the same as the simple ones, being more complex, with thicker and irregular walls and thicker content as well, and should be evaluated by a doctor, to do more tests and better diagnose. Learn more about how to identify a kidney cyst and what are the signs of concern.

4. Anaechoic cyst in the liver

Cysts in the liver, which are simple and anechoic, are benign and are usually found accidentally on a routine examination, such as an abdominal ultrasound. They can be congenital, already born with the person, or acquired throughout life due to a stroke, inflammation or infection by tapeworms, for example.

Usually, this type of cyst does not cause symptoms and also regresses on its own, and the doctor usually recommends only monitoring its development. If they grow too large, they can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain or heaviness in the abdomen and treatment is needed. When it becomes complex, the person must be evaluated by a doctor to assess the risk of cancer.

Understand when the cyst in the liver is dangerous.

5. Anaechoic cyst on the thyroid

Thyroid cysts, in most cases, are not serious or cause symptoms, so much so that the person may not even realize that they have them and, therefore, are only discovered accidentally in routine examinations. Thus, it is common that it is only advisable to watch the cyst and assess whether it grows or changes its characteristics.

However, there are also thyroid cysts that grow a lot, to the point of becoming visible and palpable or making it difficult to swallow or even breathe. In some cases not only do they grow, but they can also produce more hormones than normal, causing symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as weight loss, increased sweating, tremor, nervousness or increased heart rate. In these cases, doctor's assessment and treatment is required, which depends on the type of cyst.

Thyroid cancer appears in only a small percentage of cases, especially when there is a history of thyroid cancer or any other endocrine cancer in the family or when there has been great exposure to radiation in the past. A large and hard cyst that causes pain or discomfort is always more worrying than a small, mobile cyst that only contains liquid and that is why it is advisable to consult an endocrinologist for an adequate evaluation. Learn how to identify and treat cysts and other types of thyroid nodules.

Other types of anaechoic cyst

Simple anechoic cysts can appear anywhere on the body and in all tissues, from the brain, bone and skin. In most cases, while they are small, they rarely cause any symptoms and usually disappear on their own, and the doctor only monitors the case, without doing any specific treatment.

However, when the anaechoic cyst grows and pushes other structures in the body, or when it suffers complications, they can lead to the appearance of symptoms and, there, they need to be evaluated and treated.

When the cyst can be severe

Most of the time, the anechoic cyst does not cause any problems, the most common being that it remains the same or decreases in size over time, and may disappear on its own. In others, it may grow or become a complex cyst.

Medical follow-up is important to assess whether the cyst is growing too much or if its characteristics have changed to become a complex cyst, which makes the situation more serious. However, there is no rule as to whether or not the cyst will become complicated because its characteristics vary due to several factors such as its cause, size, location and growth rate.

Thus, it is always necessary to talk to the doctor, who will be able to assess not only the ultrasound result, but also observe the symptoms, physical examination and risks of the person, to then indicate the best treatment, be it just monitoring or performing surgery, for example.