quistes

Quistes, the Spanish term for cysts, refer to closed, saclike structures that can form within or on the surface of the body. In medicine, a cyst is typically a lined cavity filled with fluid, air, pus, or semisolid material. Quistes can occur in many tissues and organs and may be present at birth or develop later in life.

Medical cysts are often categorized as true cysts, which have an epithelial lining, and pseudocysts, which lack a true lining and are usually the result of inflammation or trauma. They may be solitary or multiple and can range in size from microscopic to several centimeters. Common examples include ovarian cysts, renal (kidney) cysts, liver cysts, pancreatic pseudocysts, sebaceous (skin) cysts, and ganglion cysts near joints.

Most cysts are asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during imaging or a routine examination. They may cause symptoms if they enlarge, rupture, become infected, or press on nearby structures. Specific cysts have characteristic presentations; for instance, ovarian cysts may cause abdominal pain or fullness, while hepatic cysts are often silent.

Diagnosis is based on history, examination, and imaging such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI. Sometimes aspiration or removal of the cyst is performed to analyze contents or relieve symptoms; fluid analysis helps distinguish benign from more concerning lesions. In certain sites, assessment of the risk of malignancy is important, particularly for complex renal or ovarian cysts.

Many quistes do not require treatment and are monitored. Treatments depend on location and symptoms and may include drainage, sclerotherapy, endoscopic or surgical removal, or treatment of underlying conditions. The prognosis is generally favorable for simple cysts, while complex cysts or those associated with infection or cancer require closer follow-up.