“Should I do something with my neck cyst?”
I'm 22, and my doctor has found a little cyst on my neck. We aren't sure if it's cancerous yet. Regardless, should I have it removed?
9 Answers
Consult Head and Neck Surgeon.
Yes. Most neck cysts are benign but the best way to be sure of the cause of the cyst is to have it removed and sent to the lab for the pathologist to evaluate it.
Please follow the directions from your primary care physician who should monitor it and can recommend a referral to a surgeon if he feels it is necessary.
Dr. Amir Tahernia
Dr. Amir Tahernia
If what you call a cyst is within the appendages of the skin or under the skin, a simple excision under local anesthesia is all you need. If it is deeper in the neck or in the thyroid gland, an imaging study with ultrasound will define it well. Aspiration of the content can then be done guided with ultrasound. Analysis will be done and that is the end of it if it is benign.
If the doctor was concerned about possible cancer then you should get the pathology from a biopsy of the cyst if it has been or can be done. If the pathology is positive then you should definitely have it removed.
Yes..have it biopsied
I like the more straight forward questions. So, to start with, it depends where in the neck it is, and if it is new. If it is in the center of the neck near the Adam's Apple, it has most likely been there for a long time and should be looked at by an EMT surgeon. The most likely thing is a sebaceous cyst, just below the skin and is firm and mobile. Those should be removed because they can get infected and turn red and painful, then they are drained and removed a few weeks later. Most cysts are not cancer, but if there is any concern or if it is increasing in size or of it is painful, it should be removed. A surgeon or a dermatologist may be able to give you better direction, as I have not seen this particular cyst.
If you have not, you will need to folllow up with ent surgeon
Jovita
Jovita
In general terms if there is a small cyst in the neck then it’s probably a good idea to remove it although the chances of it being cancerous are very low at your age. The alternative would be to monitor it for several months to see if it changes but these are usually easier to deal with by excision
