Spleen Cysts - A Rare Occurrence
One doesn't often hear about spleen cysts. For one thing, as common as cysts are, spleen cysts are quite uncommon. For another, cysts are generally harmless, though whenever they appear, it's always proper to be on the safe side, and either have them drained, removed, or monitored, in the event they may at some point become malignant. There are times when a cyst may become quite large, or if near the surface of the skin, unsightly, and removal is desirable. When a cyst occurs in or around an internal organ, it is capable of causing discomfort should it grow too large.
Cysts are rather strange occurrences, and what causes them is not well understood, in fact is not understood at all in most instances. Spleen cysts are no exception. It is known that sometimes spleen cysts will occur due to trauma, for instance if the spleen is damaged as the result of an accident. Spleen cysts are also symptomatic of several diseases, including several genetic diseases, though the formation of cysts is quite rare in these instances, as are the diseases. The medical term for a spleen cyst is a splenic cyst.
Trauma The Main Cause - As far as trauma is concerned, it is responsible for about 3/4 of all spleen cysts that have been recorded. When trauma is involved, cysts are believed to result from hematoma, or bruising of the spleen, which causes fluids to collect and become trapped between tissues and membranes. In all probability the cysts remain small and go undetected nearly half of the time. If the cysts become large however, and that is always a possibility, they can cause a great deal of discomfort, pain, and even enlargement of the spleen. At times, spleen cysts can be reduced in size by aspiration, the drawing of fluid from them. This can be a permanent solution, or it may only be temporary. In more extreme cases a cyst may have to be surgically removed, and often a portion of the spleen may have to be removed with it.
Rare Diseases Are Causes - Diseases that can cause splenic cysts, and cysts elsewhere, such as in the liver or kidneys, include polycystic kidney disease (PKD), an inherited disease which is fortunately quite rare, glutaric acidura, an enzyme deficiency which among other things affects the body's ability to use fats and proteins, and peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme deficiency, a disease affecting the metabolism due to an enzyme deficiency, which is also quite rare. There are a few other diseases, some genetic and some not, which can cause spleen cysts, but they also are quite rare.
An Enlarged Spell Is One Possibility - Spleen cysts are but one cause of an enlarged spleen, and not all that common a cause. When an enlarged spleen, or simply a very large cyst, softball-sized for example, is present, severe problems can occur, with the result that surgery is often necessary. In some cases the surgery may be minimally invasive, while in extreme cases the entire spleen may have to be removed. Fortunately the spleen, as important as it is, is a major organ we can live without if we have to. The problem with an enlarged spleen is not only that it can cause significant discomfort, but it may outgrow its own blood supply, and parts of the organ may begin to die, which can quickly become a very serious problem.
As harmless as a cyst may be, and usually is, spleen cysts can sometimes create serious problems that extend beyond the cysts themselves. That said, should you every have a spleen cyst, the odds are in your favor that you will never know it, will never need to know it, and if it is detected, it will in most cases be dealt with medically without problems or complications.