Splenic Cyst

Posted by stew201 @stew201, Jul 15, 2011

After having a CT scan with contrast for a post op mass, an unrelated 11cm cyst was found incidentally on my spleen. This finding has perplexed my primary physician and the hematologist that I was going to be referred to (I have an HMO). I am awaiting bloodwork to determine if the cyst is parasitic, but beyond that, I'm just told to take a wait and see approach if it's not parasitic. Does anyone have any experience with a splenic cyst? Isn't a mass that large on such a small organ dangerous?

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@michellern

Yes and please see my other comments. Thank you.

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Hello @michellern and @leazard,
As it has been a while since you last posted, I wanted to check in with you. Have you found any help for the pain and other symptoms you were experiencing?

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Thanks for checking in! I’m still plodding along with our system. But I’ve made some progress! My GP (family doctor) is on my side and almost as determined as me to get a plan together. My referrals to two hematologists were denied. I got sent to an Infectious Disease specialist who doesn’t think it’s parasitic (blood test negative but that actually doesn’t mean much. They can only be sure by testing the fluid inside). He didn’t seem concerned either. I went on a bit of a rant and he said we’d rescan and check on my pain in 3 months. I was not very impressed. So my GP referred me to an Internist. He took the time to thoroughly interview me about my health and showed me the CT results pointing out the complexity of my cysts. It was both fascinating and horrifying. I have two inside the spleen and a bunch of small ones on top of it. He ordered a chest X-ray, follow up ultrasound next week and I’ll have another CT in November to see if they’ve gotten bigger. He’s also referring me to the best pancreatic surgeon in my region. So I’m feeling a bit more hopeful. He was the only doc who seemed to have done as much homework as I have. I keep downloading articles as they get published and put them in my health binder along with all my various test results. So, if any decisions are made in the next few months I’ll post an update here.

As for the pain, I’m using cannabis (legal here) and going to an acupuncturist/osteopath. It helps a bit. I have good weeks and bad weeks. But always a baseline dull ache.

Also, if anyone wants some resources I’m happy to share them off this thread. It’s good to educate yourself. Keep well everyone.

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It is good to hear from you. How wonderful that you are researching and continuing to advocate for yourself, @leazard! Is the complexity of your cysts considered rare?

Will you provide an update after your November CT?

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Hello! I m 23 years old. I have spleen cyst about 4 or 4.7 cm inside of it water kinda. does it dangerous? Some doctor said its not dangerous if it is not enlarge just i should do UTT after 6 month to be sure. But another doctor said need to operation even spleen perhaps will be removed. I said how u may remove spleen if its not even disturb me. In my country medicine is not development, thus need advice of u. Please recommend me what should i do? I can send photo off UTT, MKT. I will be grateful. Thank you in advance! (Sorry if i made any mistakes, as i m not english native speaker)

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@ozod1291ozod

Hello! I m 23 years old. I have spleen cyst about 4 or 4.7 cm inside of it water kinda. does it dangerous? Some doctor said its not dangerous if it is not enlarge just i should do UTT after 6 month to be sure. But another doctor said need to operation even spleen perhaps will be removed. I said how u may remove spleen if its not even disturb me. In my country medicine is not development, thus need advice of u. Please recommend me what should i do? I can send photo off UTT, MKT. I will be grateful. Thank you in advance! (Sorry if i made any mistakes, as i m not english native speaker)

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Hello @ozod1291ozod and welcome to Mayo Connect. We're glad you found us and no apology is necessary for your written English. At Mayo Connect we are not medical professionals, and cannot diagnose nor offer medical advice.

We can offer our support and share experiences, in the hopes of assisting others. However, your confusion and concern are certainly understandable. Having two doctors give you two different treatment plans makes it difficult to feel comfortable about what is best for you. It is especially confusing when you do not have any symptoms.

Are you able to seek another opinion from another medical center located in your country or in a nearby county?

Mayo Clinic has three locations in the U.S. and there are many international patients who come here for treatment. If you feel like you would want to consider this, here is information about obtaining appointments, http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

Here is some general information about splenic cysts that might be helpful in understanding this disorder,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5062182/

I see that you have provided test results. Were these done for a particular symptom you were having?

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@hopeful33250

Hello @ozod1291ozod and welcome to Mayo Connect. We're glad you found us and no apology is necessary for your written English. At Mayo Connect we are not medical professionals, and cannot diagnose nor offer medical advice.

We can offer our support and share experiences, in the hopes of assisting others. However, your confusion and concern are certainly understandable. Having two doctors give you two different treatment plans makes it difficult to feel comfortable about what is best for you. It is especially confusing when you do not have any symptoms.

Are you able to seek another opinion from another medical center located in your country or in a nearby county?

Mayo Clinic has three locations in the U.S. and there are many international patients who come here for treatment. If you feel like you would want to consider this, here is information about obtaining appointments, http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

Here is some general information about splenic cysts that might be helpful in understanding this disorder,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5062182/

I see that you have provided test results. Were these done for a particular symptom you were having?

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Hello! Thank you for responding me. No there weren't any symptoms, i was apply for the job there required medical analyses and they found spleen cyst. Yesterday i was to another surgeon-hematolog and he said there no any to care just to do ultrasound each 3 months. If it enlarge then possibly to do laparoscopic surgery. And he said i can apply for the job it may not cause till it won't enlarge. I m so happy and calm now))) i ll check out what u send above. I hope i can get well soon

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@ozod1291ozod

Hello! Thank you for responding me. No there weren't any symptoms, i was apply for the job there required medical analyses and they found spleen cyst. Yesterday i was to another surgeon-hematolog and he said there no any to care just to do ultrasound each 3 months. If it enlarge then possibly to do laparoscopic surgery. And he said i can apply for the job it may not cause till it won't enlarge. I m so happy and calm now))) i ll check out what u send above. I hope i can get well soon

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Thanks for letting us know what the new surgeon had to say, @ozod1291ozod. I'm glad that you feel more happy and calm now. I am sure you are glad that you can apply for the job, that is good news!

I would enjoy hearing from you again. Will you check-in with Mayo Connect periodically and let us know how you are doing?

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Hi....I am unsure if I have a cyst on my spleen or if I have a problem with my spleen, just wondered if anyone could help with my systems.
For years I always felt like there was a large tennis ball under my left rib cage and had pain in the back of my right shoulder, like someone sticking a pin in, I assumed this feeling and pain was the due to the very large hiatus hernia. Last June I had surgery to repair the hernia and acid reflux.... 1 year on I still feel that I have a large tennis ball under my left ribcage (especially when sitting down) and the pan in my shoulder is still there....could this be a symptom of having a cyst on my spleen or possibly an oversized spleen....I have and do suffer from internal cyst's having had a few surgery's to remove some.

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Hello @aj25,

I am sorry to hear of this uncomfortable pain that you mention. It is frustrating to have any chronic pain and not to understand the origin of it.

Since this pain has been with you for a while, I'm wondering what type of tests you have had to discover the source. For example, have you had a CT of the abdomen? Also, what do your doctors say about this pain?

Here is an article from Mayo Clinic's website regarding the many causes of abdominal pain. Cysts/abscesses in the spleen are one of those listed. Please read the article and see if you gain more understanding.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/abdominal-pain/basics/causes/sym-20050728

You also say that "I have and do suffer from internal cyst's having had a few surgeries to remove some." If you are comfortable sharing more about this, where have these cysts been located?

Please know that it is always a patient's right to get a second opinion on any problem that does not resolve itself. Have you thought about obtaining a second opinion?

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Hi Teresa, I had an endoscopy for my Hiatus hernia and a scan to check if I had Gallstones, but I have not been to see about this feeling under my ribcage and pain in my shoulder, I just always thought it was something to do with the hiatus hernia, but it is still there a year after my op...the operations I have had to remove cyst's were from the back of my neck near at the base of my scull (only small) one from my left breast, and I currently have one on my kidney (very small) which was found when I had a scan prior to my operation last year.

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