Is epidermoid cyst serious?

Epidermoid cyst is a relatively common type of skin cyst that is more likely to occur in young people. It can cause pain and can also lead to secondary infection and redness and swelling. For people who don’t know much about epidermoid cyst, they are worried that it may be very serious and have a great impact on their health. So, is epidermoid cyst serious? Let’s take a look below.

Epidermoid cyst, also known as keratin cyst, infundibulum cyst, and epidermal inclusion cyst, is one of the most common skin cysts and is prone to occur in young people and children. There are usually no subjective symptoms, but cyst wall rupture or secondary infection is often accompanied by redness, swelling and pain. Treatment is mainly surgical resection.

Causes

Epidermoid cysts are either primary (ie, of unknown etiology) or arise from disrupted follicular structure or traumatic implanted epithelium.

Clinical manifestations

Epidermoid cysts can occur anywhere on the skin but are more common on the face and upper trunk. The lesions are well-defined nodules with a central hole visible clinically, representing the hair follicle from which the cyst originates. The diameter of the cysts ranges from a few millimeters to several centimeters. Tiny, superficial epidermoid cysts are called milia. Epidermoid cysts are usually asymptomatic; compression may reveal contents with a foul odor. Rupture of the cyst wall or secondary infection can result in an intense, painful inflammatory response, which is a common reason for patients to seek medical attention.

diagnosis

Based on the typical clinical manifestations, the diagnosis is not difficult and can be confirmed by tissue pathology examination when necessary. It should be differentiated from multiple steatocystoma, lipoma and neurofibroma.

treat

Surgical resection is curative. Removal of the cyst can be accomplished by complete excision, or by incision and expression of the cyst contents and cyst wall. If the entire cyst wall is not removed, the cyst may recur. Secondarily infected epidermoid cysts may require incision and drainage, along with antibiotic treatment. Intralesional injection of triamcinolone can help accelerate the resolution of inflammation.