Cervical cysts: Can they be cancerous?

Can cervical cysts be cancerous?

- No name given / New Jersey

Answer

Cervical cysts — fluid-filled lumps that form on the cervix — are rarely cancerous.

Cervical cysts usually are discovered incidentally during a pelvic exam. They typically cause no symptoms and don't require treatment unless they grow large enough to cause pain. In such cases, treatment may include removal of the cyst.

In the rare case that a cervical cyst has an unusual appearance or is accompanied by the signs and symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, pelvic pain, or pain during intercourse, your doctor may perform a colposcopy. A colposcopy is a procedure in which your doctor inserts a speculum just as when taking a Pap smear but uses a special microscope to magnify the cervix. If the cyst appears abnormal during a colposcopy, your doctor may perform a biopsy to rule out cancer.