Dermoid cyst appears in many forms like sac, hair, teeth or fluids on the skin. The sac like structure is inherited and is seen right from birth of the child. It is largely seen on the face, lower back (spinal cord) and inside the skull. Sometimes it may occur in the ovaries of pregnant women. This cyst can be easily removed if it occurs on the face.
Dermoid Cyst of Ovaries :
These cysts appear either as single or in cluster. It has the ability to grow into mature tissue and many times combination of such tissues exists in the form of tumor, bone, nerve, hair and cartilages. It can occur either in one ovary or in both. The size of the cyst may be too small measuring less than half inch or too large lesions that would fill up the entire stomach region. Very often dermoid cyst in the ovaries is asymptomatic (without any symptoms) unless it grows very big. There may be pain the abdomen, difficulty in passing urine, excess of vaginal bleeding and back pain. In case the cyst develops large in size, it would put pressure on the ovary putting risk of cutting down the blood supply into the ovaries. In that case, there may be severe vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. But only in rare occasions this cyst demands emergency medical care.
Dermoid Cyst in the Brain and Spinal Cord :
These cysts seldom develop in brain and spinal cord. If it appears, it may cause infection and surgery is the only option to remove them. Similarly it may develop on nasal cavity which becomes very complicated for treating.
Causes :
The minute tissues and skin structures of the fetus become trapped and may grow into multiple skin folds in the form of hair follicles or sweat glands or teeth or nerve like structure. Dermoid cyst is present during birth.
Symptoms :