Splenic Cyst

I had a CT scan with contrast 2 weeks ago for a lung issue and the radiologist found a 11cm splenic cyst as well. Will see my primary doctor soon to discuss next steps. Just wanted you to know someone else was out there! I will monitor this post and will reply again if I learn anything.

Replying to my own post to update. One surgeon advised wait and see; another advised surgery because of increased risk of rupture and not knowing what is growing inside the spleen. Splenectomy is in 10 days from now.

I have a 7cm splenic cyst with a solid component after already experiencing an unexplained rupture 6 months ago. My cyst was discovered on an ultrasound after being suspected from my CT scan. I will be meeting with the surgeon in 10 days to see what the next steps are. I will reply to this post once I know more.

I just had a CT for a cyst on my regrown ovary, (yes it grew back) the report noted several rounded low density cysts on my spleen, one being 1.2 cm. Waiting on approval to remove the ovary, when I get it I will see my doctor, and will be asking her about it. You are not alone, and I'll report what I find out.

A 4 cm splenic cyst was found during a CT scan of my abdomen. The doctor didn't seem concerned, but I requested annual ultrasounds to make sure it wasn't growing. After several years, the doctor told me it wasn't necessary to do any additional follow ups. I'm concerned though, because I've heard it can be very dangerous for one of these cysts to rupture. Would be interested in knowing what your doctors say.

Hi, @edwardschris, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You've found exactly the right thread here. Though a few of the posts are a little older, I'm hoping that some of them might come back and share some thoughts on your situation from their own experiences. I'd also invite @cynthiaendrirs, @vdouglas, @rosemarya and @jcambrose to add any insights they may have on your splenic cyst and the decision to cease follow-ups on it.

Have you experienced any symptoms of this cyst to date, @edwardschris?

@edwardschris, Hi and along with Lisa, I want to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. I want to let you know, that I do not have any experience with splenic cyst condition that you refer to. However I am going to share some things that I have experienced.

You said that your doctor found this during a CT of your abdomen and was not concerned. In my situation (with a transplanted kidney), local clinic mentioned a small kidney stone in my transplanted kidney in the written report. They were not concerned (I was being checked for unrelated issue). Months later, during my kidney check-up, my kidney team noticed it, and were concerned. According to them- for an ordinary kidney it would be no concern, however to a transplanted kidney it needed to be checked thoroughly. We are continuing to watch it, and no action at this time. I guess I share this because I am wondering if your doctor might be overlooking something of the importance, or if you perhaps have no other complicating condition.
I think that if you are not comfortable with what your doctor is/isn't telling you, you might get it checked by a specialist or at least get another opinion. But like I said, I have no experience with anything about the spleen. I wish I had more to share.
Rosemary

@edwardschris

I would like to add my welcome to Mayo Connect along with @lisalucier and @rosemarya. Here at Mayo Connect we encourage everyone to become their own patient advocate. To educate themselves on their health problems and seek answers. As mentioned by Rosemary, a second opinion is important. It would be good if your second opinion comes from a large university or medical center that is known for their work in the area you are experiencing problems.

I have had the personal experience of neuroendocrine tumors (a rare form of cancer) after 2 surgeries and many years of follow up, I too was told that the possibility of recurrence was highly unlikely and follow up was no longer needed. However, I persisted (persisting can be an important word). So after 13 years between my last surgery a new tumor was found and dealt with at an early stage.

If you would like to seek a second opinion at Mayo Clinic (they have 3 locations in the U.S.), you can submit an appointment request here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63 Often, after the first consultation, Mayo experts can work with a local provider to continued care.

Also there is a Mayo Clinic Care Network. Read more about the network and facilities here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/care-network.

Will you post again and let us know how you are doing?

Teresa

I myself am going through this now and it's most frustrating... part of it is the waiting and part of it is I've had to deal with incompetent doctors or radiologists.

I've had CT and MRI of my splenic cyst. The current Size I'm being given is 5.6cm, which is inaccurate, since there is no "one dimensional"size for something like a cyst. It should be "something x something" at least. Usuall 3 measurements... height width depth. Needless to say, in a couple years my cyst went from 1cm-ish to almost 5.6... even though I've had a previous diagnosis of over 7 cm x over 4 cm... So, my recent diagnosis seems to be missing information already. The MRI report I received was riddled with errors. Even the doctor's assistant who saw me at the Cancer Center agreed that it was the shoddiest MRI report they had seen. It was literally riddled with inconsistencies and errors.

I've done a lot of research regarding splenic cyst and most reputable radiologist will say that any splenic cyst over 5 cm should be operated. Whether it's a partial or full spleen removal... They have a few other options that might not require complete removal of the spleen but they can lead to excessive bleeding and ultimately many times lead to removal anyways....

That being said in my cyst being over 5 cm and having been with me for a few years now... At least two or three... The fact that I feel like I'm being dismissed instead of treatment is getting frustrating to say the least.

When I saw the doctor's assistant, she had seen the MRI report and said based on what she saw she's almost sure that is not cancer but still I couldn't get that definite yes. But she did say for a fact that they needed to biopsy it because they needed to find out what kind of fluid was inside. She told me that if there was blood inside than this could be extremely fatal if it accidentally burst. So it would actually push towards surgery of some kind and fast as opposed to a wait-and-see approach...

However little did I know while I sat around and waited for a biopsy referral to come to me, that the radiologist recommended to my doctor that I don't need a biopsy. His reason? The spleen isn't as big as it used to be. For one this isn't even truth because I don't even have a true measurement of the cyst to compare! Be on that? I don't understand how just because a cyst might appear smaller from one scan to another, how that reduces the fact that they need to know what fluid is in it? It seems ludicrous and stupid to me. It seems like a radiologist who doesn't know what the f he's doing. Keeping in mind this is the same radiologist who handed me an MRI result littered with errors. I was literally told that the cyst is too small to do a biopsy by some people at the clinic... Perhaps they didn't know all the information? But, that's stupid too, since when is a 2inch+ sized cyst too small to do a fine needle biopsy? LOL cysts even smaller than that actually go through the drainage procedure LOL... And their observation that it may not be as big as it used to be does not dismiss the fact that it's still over 5 cm and then it's been with me too long and therefore is not simply taking care of itself. If a cyst was resolving on its own, it should have resolved within months not years. Along with my splenic cyst I also have an enlarged spleen that is just literally under 11 inches... And according to the same radiologist my spleen is enlarged but my liver is. Yet another discrepancy on his MRI report. Nothing seems to add up or make sense when I had a CT scan literally just weeks before. That doctor at the ER was like you need to see an oncologist and he would not dismiss a neoplasm. AKA cancer. He seemed very concerned for me based on what he saw on the CT... Yet this MRI radiologist totally canceled my biopsy all because of its supposedly "not being as big as it used to."

The same hospital did both scans but at two different hospitals. The CT scan done at Sharp Memorial- that's where the doctor was concerned and he told me my cyst is bigger than previous scans. He's the one that told me to start seeing a different doctor when he found out my doctor was being placid about the whole thing and putting me off... And he referred me to a doctor who would get me help. That's what led me to the cancer center. The MRI was done at Sharp Grossmont and they're trying to say that the cyst is smaller then previous records. Not sure what records they have LOL not sure how one sharp radiologist can say it's larger but they say it's smaller. But the one who says it's smaller is also the one that has errors written throughout their report. Go figure. I can understand a CT being the less reliable scan when we're dealing with my new issues such as tiny tiny tumors in the lung Etc but we're talking about a 5 to 6 centimeter cyst here. That is larger than a golf ball and almost the size of a tennis ball.... There's no way the CT doctor didn't know what he was doing. Or what he was seeing. And there's no mistake that he wrote on his report neoplasm is not ruled out. But the other hospital is just treating it like I got a boo-boo on my knee.

So yeah there are others like you that have experienced it but it seems like I get conflicting information from one doctor to another. Mine all told me before that it was no big deal. Then it was a big deal. And now it's all the sudden not a big deal anymore... It just doesn't make sense. Needless to say, I follow up with the Doctor who originally ordered the biopsy 2 weeks ago that was canceled by the radiologist in a couple days and if I can remember I will come back and do an update... I will definitely be asking for a second opinion and another scan. Which kind of pisses me off cuz I already had an MRI scheduled dith different place for 2nd opinion, that they told me to cancel, because they were going to do the biopsy LOL... Sssiiiigggghhhh.

It was not surprising that your update was spleen removal since that seems to be the true diagnosis from a reputable radiologist concerning a cyst on the spleen larger than 5 cm.

I should also mention I live in California where we have really crappy Healthcare. Especially if you're on assistance for medical where all they care about is getting you in the seats so they can fraud the taxpayers with unnecessary tests cuz it's a free-for-all since the money is already there.

Pink pen....I was in one hospital off and on for 3 weeks. Their report on my Kidneys was not as reported from the University Hospital. One hospital and IT IS IN MY RECORDS, states I have Kidney State Three issues. The other hospital states, MY KIDNEYS are in GREAT shape. No issues. I would rather get an exam from a student instead of a doctor. At least the student will read carefully everything and every test. I give up on doctors. My family experienced a d BIG mistake made by ONE doctor and nearly took my son's life. Be your advocate. Don't believe everything they tell you. Check yourself or get a second opinion. I go to pain mgt in two weeks to get shots in an area that I did not even complain about. Its my back. Then I went to see my back doctor so he could check the procedure that was done. HE said DO NOT GET THOSE SHOTS. Now what do I do?