Features of Malignant Throat Cyst
Q: My mother, who is 72, had a cyst in her throat. It was checked by the doctors who said that it is no problem. This was 2 years ago. However, in the last 3 months it has grown quite big, and my mother is coughing a lot when eating. The hospital took a sample and they said it could be cancerous. How is this possible? Can this happen? Can they remove the cancer?
– By Afia
Reply:
It’s rare for throat cysts to be cancerous. But this possibility can not be ruled out.
Features of Cancer Cysts
A cyst that is cancerous would show the following features:
- It may grow in size with time.
- It will gradually become hard in consistency with irregular margins. Non-cancerous cysts are usually smooth to feel.
- It may become somewhat fixed to the underlying tissues.
- Lymph nodes of the nearby region may get enlarged.
- You may feel some fatigue, weakness and even loose weight.
Looks like your doctor has taken a biopsy (sample) from the lesion. Let the report come.
If the cyst is not cancerous, all that would be required is to aspirate (drain) it. This would give your mother relief in her symptoms. Further treatment would depend upon the cause of the cyst.
If the pathology report shows malignant nature of cells, the cyst needs to be removed completely (with its capsule). Also, the doctor may consider removing some nearby lymph nodes.
Treatment of malignancy depends upon the stage of cancer. Accordingly, surgery may be supplemented with radiotherapy.
Take Care,
Buddy M.D.
I had go to a specialist for two years and it seems that he couldn’t see what was going on with my throat. So got divorce and I’m not on medical aid anymore. I went to the day hospital. They send me for a scan and the scan showed that there is a 4mm cyst in my throat. It is very painful. They gave me an appointment to come back after 2 month. What do you think will my results be? I am really worried.
Your throat cyst is likely to have an infective cause. It may be an infected lymph node or a pocket of collected pus.
Evaluation and further treatment needs to be prompt, to prevent the spread of underlying disease.
Hi I had a CT if the soft tissue in my throat and also a CT if my chest as I have had a persistent cough for over a year and I am always clearing my throat . The CT showed a small cyst in my throat and my chest scan said I have emphysema. The doctor said as the cyst is small it is nothing to worry about. What do you think.
For exact diagnosis, a biopsy from the cyst is required.
Most likely, it’s not serious. The cause of your troublesome symptoms is likely to be emphysema.
hi my sister was diagnosed with malignant cyst what are the risk ?
Malignancy spreads. So, urgent removal is required.