cisto

Cisto is a term that can refer to more than one concept in different languages and disciplines. In Portuguese, cisto is the ordinary clinical term for a cyst, a closed sac that may contain fluid, air, or semi-solid material. Cysts can arise in many tissues, including the skin, ovaries, kidneys, liver, and breast, among others. Most cysts are benign and may be asymptomatic, but some grow large, cause pain, or are associated with underlying conditions. Evaluation typically involves clinical examination and imaging, such as ultrasound or MRI; treatment ranges from watchful waiting to drainage or surgical removal, depending on the cyst’s size, location, and symptoms.

Beyond Portuguese medical usage, the form cisto is rarely used in English; English generally uses cyst. The root originates from the Greek kystis, through Latin and other Romance-language forms; related terms include cyst-, quiste (Spanish), cyste (French), and kyste (French). However, usage varies by language, and not all Romance languages use cisto as a stand-alone word.

In other contexts, cisto may appear as a surname or place name in Portuguese-speaking regions, but such uses are uncommon and not widely documented in major reference works.