The adrenal cyst is a benign neoplasm, which is a cavity with a membrane filled with anechogenic contents. However, it does not have any effect on the production of hormones by these endocrine glands. The adrenal cyst develops without obvious symptoms, therefore, it is determined more often during a routine medical examination using ultrasound.
Types of cystic adrenal glands
Modern science has identified several types of cystic formations affecting the adrenal glands. All of them are studied in detail and have their own treatment methods:
- Epithelial cyst - a neoplasm consists mainly of epithelial cells with the inclusion of segmental cells.
- Endothelial cyst - formed in places of increasing diameter of a vein or artery.
- A parasitic tumor is the result of damage to the body by echinococcus that has entered the human body.
- Pseudotumor is a blood clot that appears as a result of physical trauma. This neoplasm is not a tumor and cannot belong to a cyst.
The adrenal cyst code according to ICD 10 (international classification of diseases) has two designations:
- C74 is a malignant tumor.
- D35.0 - benign tumor.
Since the adrenal gland is part of the human endocrine system and secretes a number of hormones that control various functions of the body, any formation on its surface can affect the proper functioning of any system - nervous, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and so on.
Causes of the adrenal cyst
Despite the fact that this type of neoplasm has been studied for more than a year, a unique reason for its cause has not yet been found. It is believed that the cyst begins to grow during the period of intrauterine development of a person. Over the course of life, it slowly reaches dangerous dimensions and only after years manifests itself. In this regard, after the discovery of a cyst, measures are taken to treat it, without waiting until it grows to such a size that it begins to affect the functioning of the organ.
Course of the disease
The cyst itself does not cause any pain to a person. But increasing in size, it is able to block the nearby blood vessels and squeeze the nerve fibers. This leads to the fact that the patient's blood pressure rises and the blood supply to some pelvic organs is disturbed.
Constant pressure on the nerves causes spasmodic pain in the back of a person and reduces his mobility. And when it disrupts blood circulation in the adrenal gland, areas of tissue death occur, which reduces the efficiency of the organ.
The adrenal cyst alone cannot cause serious pathological changes in the body. However, with concomitant diseases, such as hypertension, heart failure, or a malfunction of the endocrine system, the patient's condition deteriorates sharply.
Cyst in children
The adrenal cyst in children is diagnosed during the intrauterine development of the baby. During this period, she can not affect the formation of the body, so a pregnant woman does not undergo any special treatment. After the birth, the baby again undergoes an examination to assess the size and growth rate of the cyst. If the measurement results show that the neoplasm does not increase and does not pose a danger to the organ, then it is left untreated until the situation changes for the worse or until the child grows up.
Sometimes it happens that the cyst of the left adrenal gland resolves, but remains on the right or vice versa. This is a normal situation, since this type of neoplasm most often affects only one organ - the left or right adrenal gland.
Symptomatic manifestations
Symptoms of the adrenal cyst appear when the neoplasm reaches a significant size - about 3-5 cm in diameter. There are cases when the tumor reached 10 cm.
In this case, the first sign of a cyst is pain. It is localized on the right or left side opposite the kidney or is reflected in the lower back.
Blood pressure also rises. This phenomenon is also accompanied by pain, but in the head.
The work of the gastrointestinal tract is often disrupted, this is accompanied by pain in the abdomen and diarrhea.
Hormonal imbalance caused by a violation of the adrenal gland leads to a variety of symptoms, for example, tachycardia, arrhythmias, pain in the sternum. For the same reason, the patient’s mental state changes.
Pathology diagnostics
Treatment of adrenal cysts begins with a diagnosis. This process includes a whole range of laboratory and instrumental studies.
First of all, the patient gives blood for analysis. It determines the level of hormones in the body.
The presence of a cyst can be determined by ultrasound of the adrenal gland. However, the exact location of the neoplasm, its size and density is determined only with the help of magnetic resonance imaging.
A cyst can be found in unborn children. For this, ultrasound or computed tomography is used.
After birth, the baby is regularly examined for several months for growth and increased education. Removal of the adrenal cyst is indicated only if it is rapidly increasing in size.
Conservative treatment
Drug treatment of adrenal cysts is not aimed at eliminating the neoplasm, but at suppressing its manifestations or consequences. If the tumor caused back pain, then the patient is prescribed an analgesic suitable for his body.
If the tumor is accompanied by inflammation, then the patient takes a course of antibiotics.
With high blood pressure caused by a tumor, it is normalized by antihypertensive drugs.
All drugs are prescribed by a doctor individually. In order to avoid complications or side effects, self-medication is contraindicated.
Surgical treatment
An operation with an adrenal cyst is indicated only if it degenerates into a malignant tumor. Surgery is also necessary if the size of the neoplasm began to interfere with the blood flow in the organs lying next to the kidneys.
How to treat the adrenal cyst by surgery, the specialist decides, based on the severity and form of the disease, as well as on the general condition of the patient. In some cases, not the entire cyst is removed, but only dead tissue. But more often, of course, it is completely removed.
The operation can be performed by laparoscopic or open method. Laparoscopy is performed using special instruments in the form of tubes with microcameras and instruments installed in them. Tubes are inserted through the skin directly to the adrenal gland. This type of operation is not accompanied by heavy bleeding, after which the patient recovers faster, since there are no surgical sutures on his skin. However, only a highly qualified doctor with extensive experience can carry out this kind of procedure. This type of operation lasts no more than 1 hour and the very next day the patient can go home, where he continues outpatient treatment.
Be sure to send a sample of the removed cyst for histological examination to exclude cancer of the kidneys.
An open method of surgery involves the removal of a cyst through an incision made in the skin and soft tissues around the kidney. This method eliminates accidental damage to blood vessels or nerve fibers, but has a longer rehabilitation period. The patient after surgery is still in the hospital for several days or even weeks under the constant supervision of doctors.
Treatment with folk remedies
As with drug treatment, herbal medicine cannot save a person from a cyst, but it can relieve pain and relieve inflammation. This kind of therapy should be carried out only with the permission of the attending physician. This will reduce the risk of cyst growth and its conversion from a benign tumor to a malignant one.
Symptoms and treatment of cysts in the adrenal glands have been known for a long time, respectively, herbs were selected that could alleviate human suffering.
Decoctions are usually prepared from currants, medunits, knotweed, geraniums, nettles or horsetail. Typically, these herbs are brewed with boiling water and infused either individually or in the form of a collection, that is, each herb 1 tablespoon. Water must be poured at the rate of 200 g per 1 tbsp. collection spoon.
Another very effective herbal remedy includes Lungwort, a string, viburnum flowers and currant leaves. The proportions for its preparation are the same - 1 tbsp. spoon per 200 g of boiling water. Insist means need no more than 30 minutes.
It is also recommended to drink more water, fruit drinks or eat watermelons and seaweed. This will make the kidneys work better and therefore the adrenal glands will be supplied with fresh blood and trace elements.
Inflammation from the adrenal gland is removed by decoction of the licorice root, parsley and juniper.
Prognosis and complications
In general, an adrenal cyst may not cause problems to a person throughout life. This is the case if it does not increase in size and does not transform into a malignant tumor.
If the situation worsens, complications are possible. First of all, constant pain affects the psyche of the patient. Hormonal imbalance caused by a tumor negatively affects the functioning of the human cardiovascular system.
It is also possible the development of meningitis and other inflammations in the brain.
In this regard, the prognosis may be unfavorable, especially if the cyst was detected too late, at the stage of its transformation into a malignant tumor.
Preventive actions
Preventive measures include only one thing - to regularly undergo medical examinations, especially with the use of ultrasound of the kidneys and adrenal glands. This will allow you to detect pathology in the early stages and prevent its growth. This procedure must be carried out at least 2 times a year. Other preventive measures have not yet been developed, since the causes of cysts in science are not yet known for certain.
The adrenal cyst often does not pose a health hazard, however, it is necessary to observe it in any case. If the growth of the tumor is on the face, then treatment should be carried out without fail. Therapy in most cases has a positive prognosis and the patient returns to a normal lifestyle as soon as possible.