Patient's question:
How to distinguish between an ovarian cyst and ovarian tuberculosis (how to differentiate between physiological and pathological ovarian cysts)Doctor's answer:
The common symptoms of ovarian cysts mainly include the following:1. Abdominal Pain: Patients experience abdominal pain, especially when it occurs suddenly, which is often due to the torsion of the tumor stalk. Occasionally, it may be caused by tumor rupture, bleeding, or infection. Additionally, malignant cysts often cause abdominal and leg pain, and the pain frequently leads patients to seek emergency medical attention.
2. Menstrual Irregularities: Generally, ovarian cysts, even bilateral ones, do not cause menstrual disorders because they do not destroy all normal ovarian tissue. However, in some cases, abnormal bleeding may occur due to non-endocrine-related reasons, or it may be caused by changes in pelvic blood vessel distribution due to the ovarian tumor, leading to endometrial congestion. Alternatively, it may result from direct metastasis of ovarian malignancies to the endometrium. Menstrual disorders caused by endocrine tumors are often accompanied by other secretory effects.
3. Increased Abdominal Circumference and Abdominal Mass: An increased abdominal circumference and the presence of an abdominal mass are the most common symptoms. Patients may notice that their clothes or belts feel tight, prompting them to realize their abdomen has grown. Alternatively, they may experience sudden bloating or difficulty passing gas, leading to discomfort. By pressing their abdomen, they may feel a mass, accompanied by abdominal distension and discomfort.
4. Pressure Symptoms: Large ovarian cysts can compress the diaphragm, causing shortness of breath and palpitations. Tumors combined with significant ascites may also cause these symptoms. However, in some patients with ovarian tumors, shortness of breath may result from unilateral or bilateral pleural effusion, often accompanied by ascites, forming what is known as Meigs syndrome.