Sebaceous cyst management?
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Hello, my 54-year-old teacher has got ovoid swelling >5 cm in diameter on the right submandibular region. Clinical examination showed a mobile lesion, well defined and soft on palpation. He denied having suffered from any trauma or having undergone any surgical procedure in that region. This lesion began to develop 10 years ago. He decided to seek expert help mainly for esthetic reasons, as this 10-year period had no symptoms. My teacher had no significant medical history. Doctor told him that this is sebaceous cyst. How to manage this? Please advise.
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@rajan Doctor can treat a cyst by draining it or by surgically removing it. Normally, cysts are removed. This isn’t because they’re dangerous but rather for cosmetic reasons. Since most cysts aren’t harmful to health, doctor will allow to choose the treatment option that works for patient. It’s important to remember that without surgical removal, cyst will usually come back. The best treatment is to ensure complete removal through surgery. Some people do decide against surgery, however, because it can cause scarring. Doctor may use one of the following methods to remove cyst: Conventional wide excision, which completely removes a cyst but can leave a long scar. Minimal excision, which causes minimal scarring but carries a risk that the cyst will return. Laser with punch biopsy excision, which uses a laser to make a small hole to drain the cyst of its contents (the outer walls of the cyst are removed about a month later). After cyst is removed, doctor may give an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. Patient should use this until the healing process is complete. He may also be given a scar cream to reduce the appearance of any surgical scars.