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Ovarian Cysts
(GY011)

Introduction


Cysts are sacs filled with fluid or semi-solid tissue that can develop in almost any part of the body. The ovaries, however are a particularly common location for the development of cysts in women. Most ovarian cysts are benign.

Ovarian cysts (OC) are very common in women of childbearing age and are even found in children and newborns. Cysts that occur in postmenopausal women have a higher risk of malignancy and are usually evaluated and treated aggressively.

OC often do not cause any symptoms. Symptoms may be caused by: a cyst bleeding or breaking open (rupture) and spilling contents that irritate the abdominal tissues; a twisting (torsion) cyst that blocks blood flow to the ovary; or a cyst that is very large.

Treatment decisions are based on the woman's age, the size of the cyst, and the ultrasound appearance, which usually provides adequate information to determine which cysts are appropriate for observation and which necessitate surgical removal.

Most cysts, especially smaller ones, resolve spontaneously over the course of 2-3 months and require no intervention. Cysts that are 8 centimeters and larger are generally removed surgically.

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The Medifocus Guide on Ovarian Cysts provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:


What Your Doctor Reads:


This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:


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MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness.

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