Patient's question:
Right chocolate cyst exceeds 5 cm, endometriosis.Doctor's answer:
Okay, here is the English translation of the provided text, following your instructions:1. What is an Ovarian Cyst
An ovarian cyst refers to a (cystic) mass that appears on the ovary. The exact cause of ovarian cysts is not yet fully understood. Ovarian cysts are a type of ovarian tumor and can be benign or malignant. Therefore, the first step after discovering this condition is to confirm whether it is benign or malignant. Additionally, it should be noted that sometimes the ovary may exhibit changes similar to a cyst but is not actually a cyst, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), corpus luteum cysts, or endometriosis affecting the ovary. While these conditions may also cause masses on the ovary, they are different from ovarian cysts.
2. Causes of Ovarian Cysts
1. Stagnation of Qi and Blood: During the menstrual period or postpartum, exposure to cold can cause blood to stagnate. Alternatively, internal injury from emotional distress, depression, or impaired liver Qi flow can lead to Qi stagnation, which in turn causes blood stagnation. The stagnation and accumulation of Qi and blood can lead to the formation of a cyst. If this accumulation persists for a long time, it may transform into cancer.
2. Congealing of Phlegm and Blood Stasis: Excessive worry and pensiveness can damage the spleen. A damaged spleen generates phlegm. Phlegm and fluid accumulate, obstructing Qi flow, which causes Qi stagnation and blood stasis. Phlegm and blood stasis combine to form a mass. The long-term accumulation of phlegm and blood stasis can lead to cancer.
3. Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cysts often manifest clinically with symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, lower abdominal discomfort, increased vaginal discharge, yellowish vaginal discharge, vaginal odor, and menstrual irregularities. Typically, a solid, painless mass can be felt within the lower abdomen. Pain during intercourse may occur. When a cyst affects hormone production, symptoms like irregular vaginal bleeding or hirsutism (excess hair growth) may appear. If a cyst twists (torsion), severe abdominal pain, abdominal distension, difficulty breathing, decreased appetite, nausea, and fever may occur. Larger cysts can compress nearby structures, causing frequent urination and difficulty urinating. Particularly when these symptoms are severe, bleeding is frequent, and multiple symptoms appear simultaneously, the likelihood of having an ovarian cyst is higher. Malignant ovarian cancer poses a greater threat.
4. Diagnosis of Ovarian Cysts
Advanced diagnostic techniques such as color Doppler ultrasound, X-ray examinations, and laparoscopy allow for the early diagnosis of ovarian cyst lesions.
5. Treatment Methods for Ovarian Cysts
Currently, there are two main treatment methods: conservative treatment and surgical treatment.
1. Conservative Treatment: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) classifies ovarian cysts under the category of "congkuan" (accumulations). TCM (believes) that this condition often results from emotional damage, overexertion during sexual activity, or external invasions (pathogenic factors) during the menstrual period or postpartum. These factors obstruct Qi flow, disrupt the harmony of the Zang-Fu organs, and cause an imbalance of Yin and Yang. Therefore, treatment must involve a comprehensive, holistic analysis of the underlying causes and employ syndrome differentiation to treat the whole person, allowing the condition to be truly resolved.
2. Surgical Treatment:
Benign Ovarian Tumors: The affected ovary containing the tumor is typically removed. During surgery, it is crucial to examine the contralateral (opposite) ovary. If a tumor is also present on the contralateral ovary, it must be removed simultaneously, followed by a pathological examination. However, recurrence after surgery is common.
Malignant Tumors: Surgery is the primary treatment method. The surgical scope is generally extensive, often involving the removal of the entire uterus, both fallopian tubes, and the omentum. Postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also required.
3. Recent Developments in Treatment: In recent years, electrocautery (electrode treatment) has become a common international treatment for ovarian cysts and is particularly favored by patients. This therapy primarily uses a navigation device with sonographic and imaging 3D scanning functions to stereoscopically locate the ovary and cyst within the pelvic cavity. Micro-electrodes are then inserted into the cyst cavity. After measuring the cellular components and nature of the deposits within the cavity, the fluid is aspirated. Subsequently, a factor is introduced, which uses ionization to cause the cyst to...