Why every cyst is not malignant but checking every cyst in the ovary is essential.

In this hectic, unhealthy lifestyle scenario, diseases are just spreading like wild forest fires.

Ovarian cancer was estimated to be the third most common cancer among Indian women and eighth overall  as per the Globocan 2018 Fact sheet, constituting 3.44% of all cancer cases.

Ovarian cancer is a group of diseases that originates in the ovaries, or in the related areas of the fallopian tubes and the peritoneum. Ovarian cysts are seen in ovarian cancer. These are fluid-filled structures that may be simple or complex. It can form on one or both ovaries.

Ovarian cysts can cause complications including rupture, and haemorrhage which are considered gynaecological emergencies.

Most of the cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, which leads to poor outcomes for this disease.

Therefore, it is important for women belonging to the reproductive age group or having a medical history to get a check-up once in six months. Your healthcare provider will recommend tests to determine the type of cyst and whether you need treatment.

Possible tests include a pregnancy test, pelvic ultrasound, laparoscopy, and tumour marker tests.

1. Pregnancy test: A positive test might suggest that you have a corpus luteum cyst.

1. Pelvic ultrasound: There is a wandlike device used which sends and receives high-frequency sound waves to create an image of your uterus and ovaries on a video screen (ultrasound). The image is used to confirm that you have a cyst, see its location, and determine whether it’s solid or filled with fluid.

1. Laparoscopy. A laparoscope is inserted into your abdomen through a small cut using which your provider can see your ovaries and any cyst. Treatment is usually done during the same procedure if a cyst is found. This is a surgical procedure that requires anaesthesia.

2. Tumour marker tests. Cancer antigen proteins are often elevated in ovarian cancer. If your cyst appears solid and you’re at high risk of ovarian cancer, your provider might order a cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) test or other blood tests. CA 125 levels can also be elevated in noncancerous conditions, such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.

To summarise, every cyst whether malignant or not needs to be checked to have personal satisfaction and prevent its spread to the next stage.