complex vs simple vs solid cysts

[shibby]

Can someone explain the differences between simple, complex and solid cysts or tumors.  Also, what it means to have depris or not.  Thank you

[Christianchick]

Hi all,
This is my first time here...and saw all the messages regarding ovarian cysts & had to jump in with what I know. Basically a hemorrhagic cyst is cyclical (I believe they are sometimes call chocolate cysts) and should go away with next cycle, a simple cyst is in fact fluid filled and considered harmless and benign, a complex cyst on the other hand is solid and suspect and should always be investigated further.  No I am not a medical person, I am a 49 year old woman who three years ago was was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer.  My journey has taught me much on the subject. I like to say "my heart may have saved my life" - My story takes a few twists & turns & I will try and get right to the point, but I have been telling my story to many women as part of the NOCC in hopes to bring awareness to this "Disease that Whispers".  So...I was going to have a procedure on my heart and as part of the preop test I had a urinalysis done which showed blood in my urine.  I wasn't worried as I have had UTI's in the past so when my primary got a copy of test and insisted I go to a urologist I said "I'd get to it", this was June.  In September she reminded me again and I complied.  The urologist ordered a CT scan to investigate my kidneys..etc. and instead found an "adnexal mass" on my left ovary.  My primary told me to follow up with my gynecologist. A transvaginal ultrasound in December, show a 7 cm. "simple" cyst.  He want to do another ultrasound next cycle to see if it would disappear (as hemmorhagics do) and it was still there and this time the impression noted they could not rule out an ovarian neoplasm.  Well, my gyne reassured me that everything looked harmless, the ultrasounds showed a cysts, my CA-125 was a 10 which is better than normal. So I went in for an exploratory laparoscopy and came out over 5 hours later with Stage III ovarian cancer.  My malignancy was actually growing out of the simple cyst.  My gyne and oncologist call me "Lucky" because if not for that little urinalysis I most likely wouldn't have reported symptoms till it was very advanced.  My tumor was small and except for one very tiny fragment (why I am a Stage III) it was contained to the ovary.  I had a total hysterectomy, went through the chemo, the bald is beautiful moments and came out the other side feeling quite blessed.  Now I speak at different events and am active in getting out the word to all women that OVARIAN CANCER is the most lethal of all gynecological cancers.  Because of vague symptoms (bloating, slight weight gain, diarrhea) which mimic other diseases such as irritable bowel...many women do not seek gynecological help quickly enough and 80% of all cases are diagnosed in the late stages.  So I do this not to scare anyone but to pass along this message PLEASE READ UP ON OVARIAN CANCER (NOCC is a great start) ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR BODY & BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR BODY & DON'T LET DOCTORS BLOW YOU OFF...GET THAT TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND...AND IF YOU SUSPECT ANYTHING, GO SEE A GYNECOLOGICAL ONCOLOGIST...I met many women since then, through support groups and what not and it is maddening how many stories like mine and worse are out there.  So, sorry to go on and on, but this has become my passion...if I help save one person...mine was worth it.  Where the "Teal" ladies.  If I can help in any way, please write..Good Luck and God Bless.

[Raynbow]

About the debris thing....At first u/s, the gyn told me that I had debris in my cyst along with a septation and fluid on left adnexal region.....He said probably a hemorrhagic cyst...Well, at 6wk f/u, it showed that the cyst grew, it had a thicker septum (2 1/2- 3mm), 2 more smaller cysts, and fluid around right ovary....So now he thinks it's endometrioma or teratoma....Just wanted to offer this info because it seems that these things can morph into something else or even appear to be something that they are not. (unless my gyn is just guessing on the diagnosis all the time...who knows)
Take care,
(((Raynbow

[MickeyVicki]

The only experience that I can quote is that of  a family member who had one, and was told to come back in three months for a follow-up ultrasound.  That cyst had resolved, but she then developed another cyst that did not resolve, or perhaps there were several cysts...anyway, she eventually had surgery to remove an ovary, cyst (or cysts), and fallopian tube, as well as to remove as much of the endometriosis as could be removed.   Then, finally cured of her problems, she and her husband were able to conceive a child.

[healthcareguerilla]

Any ballpark timeline on the resolution of a hemorrhagic cyst?  Ovaries are not my 'specialty', but I'm afraid they will be soon.  So - haven't done enough research to know about hemorrhagic cysts and whether or not the occur in post-menopausal women -- for instance.

[MickeyVicki]

Debris is often indicative of a hemorrhagic cyst.   Hemorrhagic cysts are most often normal (functional follicular) cysts that fail to resolve completely and linger on the ovary, bleeding internally into the cyst (which contributes to the debris) or bleeding externally into the abdomen, causing pain and  sometimes mild bloating.  Fortunately, hemorrhagic cyst do tend to resolve on their own, but it might take some time for this to happen.

[Gatsby]

Welcome.  A simple cyst is a fluid filled cyst.  Complex can be fluid and solid.  An example of this is a dermoid which has fluid and solids (hair, teeth, bone, etc.)  Also, it is good to remember that 99% of ovarian cysts are benign.  Hope this helps.  If you have any other questions, please ask!!
~Tascha