Unusual Ultrasound/Possible Dermoid Cyst

**katzintheclouds** · 10-09-2011 11:52 AM

I just realized that I haven't written about why I joined this forum in the first place! I got so caught up in the PCOS discussions but didn't address what my doctor had found on the last one. As I mentioned before, I had a vaginal ultrasound about 12 months ago when I was having problems with my period. Due to my track record of having abnormal periods, she did the blood work but also wanted to check the ultrasound to check my lining. I had a very thin lining & she saw the multiple cysts on my ovaries. She put me progesterone as, at the time, I didn't want to go on birth control due to the possibility of TTC in the near future. I was on Progesterone for about 6 months, experiencing cycles again like before the amenorrhea, except they were much heavier, had more intense cramps & for the first time, gave me ovulation cramps. Then about 4 weeks ago my doctor rescheduled an ultrasound to see if anything was different. At the time I thought she was looking to see if my cysts were still there (as I said in other entries I had no idea if they were good or bad, or what they meant or whether or not we wanted them to "go away"). She saw them, explained to me that it wasn't necessarily a bad thing & continued with the ultrasound. After examining the right ovary, she moved over to the other & immediately said 'this is something we should watch". Apparently she saw a spot about the size of a penny within my ovary that she said indicated a POSSIBLE problem. When I asked her what that meant she mentioned the dermoid cysts, but told me to not worry about that yet because it was worst case scenario. I didn't really know what to say (I had no idea what that was, what it meant or what to think about it) so we ended the ultrasound, talked & I left. She made me feel like I should find a way to think about it but not worry about it because it probably isn't bad, but theres a slim chance it might be...wow! Sometimes I really hate doctor speak.

But has anyone been through dermoid cysts? I know they are pretty weird, from what I've read they always need to be surgically removed. She said not to worry too much but I can't help but do that. She didn't want to see me until the end of December though so she must not think it's too scary.

Any thoughts?

**ItsASecret** · 10-09-2011 12:17 PM

Dermoid cysts are weird things. The most simple version is that a dermoid cyst is a cluster of cells which contain cells that are totipotential. Totipotential simply means cells are at a stage of development when they can turn into many different types of cells. Thus it is not uncommon to see the cyst contain cells that resemble the ones that turn into hair, teeth, bone, and oily substances. This does not mean you will grow teeth tissue on your ovary...no no...it just means the cyst can contain the types of cells that can turn into it and hence the 'weird' label given to them. The reason the doctor would have said "this is something we should watch" is dermoid cysts can become malignant just like many other types of cysts can. Anytime a doctor says "we need to watch this" or something close to that it means they are exercising their clinical expertise in saying that there is the possibility of cancer. However dermoid cysts rarely become cancerous, but that is why monitoring is used. The other reason dermoid cysts are watched is because they can become inflamed and grow around things, in this case grow around the ovary and cause what is called ovarian torsion. Ovarian torison involves something being wrapped around the ovary to the point of blood flow being constricted possibly resulting in rupture (ovarian torsion is kinda hard to diagnose as the only real symptom is a dull ovarian pain). That said dermoid cysts are almost always benign much like other cysts. The doctor is simply exercising her professional opinion.

**katzintheclouds** · 10-09-2011 07:42 PM

Thank you so much for the reply! I guess I just feel strange because I'm not sure if I should be wary or not. She doesn't want to see me back until December so that makes me think she's not too concerned about it, but now that she said that & I saw the spot myself on the images, I'm scared a little. If it is something like that, shouldn't it be addressed as soon as possible & be removed? Or do you think maybe she's just waiting because that's really all we can do at this point. I hate feeling like I shouldn't be doing something & I'm not, even though I know there really isn't much I could do anyway.

**ItsASecret** · 10-09-2011 08:48 PM

Many cysts go away on their own or you can live perfectly well with them there which is why surgery is not always the first go-to option. Cysts are not always cause for concern in the first place which is why the doctor does not seem worried, remember this is her professional medical opinion. The monitoring is the best precaution especially since it is so soon. There is nothing you can do right now except wait for the doctors appointment, cysts are not something you can just will away. They grew for whatever reason and they will do as they please just try not to stress out as this can cause your body to stress and as a result can aggravate the cyst to grow more. Simply remind yourself that a doctor says there is nothing to worry about and try not to read into online information (especially blogs and personal created websites) too much because oftentimes that material will skip the parts saying "this is very rare" and will make it seem as though you are doomed....and you are not doomed.