Dear Alice,
I have a 1/2-inch lump inside the back of my leg 2 inches above my knee (there is no visible mark on the skin). It is not painful or bothersome in any way. An acupuncturist thinks it is a cyst. If it is, what kind might it be, what kind of treatment might I get, and how necessary is it?
Dear Reader,
Since you're concerned about a lump, any lump, it's important to get it medically checked. Your primary health care provider will examine your lump and then will determine what it might be and what treatment, if any, is appropriate.
If this is a cyst, cysts are sacs that are filled with fluid, a partially solid substance, or even sometimes air. They can occur in any tissue of the body, but the most obvious cysts are those that occur in the skin. Cysts are most commonly the result of an infection, clogging of sebaceous glands (which produce your skin's oils), or the body's response to a foreign object.
Most internal and external cysts, while unsightly if external, are not cancerous. Sometimes they can be indicative of other health problems, ranging from arthritis to infection of glands. The most common problem related to a cyst in the skin is the general soreness or tenderness of the surrounding area.
If you notice a growth similar to a cyst, your health care provider will generally ask you about any growths and changes that you might have noticed, and will examine the cyst for tenderness and size. Depending on your provider's preliminary diagnosis, further tests might be necessary, but often they're not. Cysts can be drained and/or removed, if they become infected, and some can recur, so discuss your options with your provider. The most common treatment of skin cysts is none at all, since the majority pose no health risk.
A cyst in the back of the knee, similar to the lump you describe in your question, is called a Baker's cyst, named after the physician who first discovered them. This type of cyst occurs when the fluid that helps lubricate the knee joint bulges out from between the bones. While it is sometimes related to arthritis or other conditions causing inflammation to the knees, the cyst itself is usually painless and harmless. There are other possible causes of a lump behind the knee, though, so it's important to have your health care provider check it out to be sure.
- Alice
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Is the lump behind my knee a cyst?
