Do ovarian cysts appear differently on sc... - Endometriosis UK

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Do ovarian cysts appear differently on scans?

BRYAS profile image
7 Replies

I had an ultrasound as I was experiencing on/off pelvic pain and they found a cyst.

The nurse told me it was a simple/functional cyst, nothing to be concerned about and that they’ll give me another scan in 6 weeks to check.

However after googling it I found out there were ‘chocolate cysts’ which are common with endo suffers. (I have never been diagnosed with endo and have no other symptoms other than pelvic pain). But how do I know this isn’t a cyst due to endo?

I was wondering how can the nurse tell which type of cyst it is via an ultrasound? Am I just letting my heath anxiety get the better of me? And should I trust what the nurse said?

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BRYAS profile image
BRYAS
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7 Replies
Poorna66 profile image
Poorna66

I think you should trust what the nurse said. Chocolate cysts are filled with fluid and do appear different on ultrasounds. And in any case chocolate cysts aren’t that big a deal either if they are less than 5 cm and aren’t causing any major issues. There is definitely no need to worry if they are going to give you a repeat scan.

BRYAS profile image
BRYAS in reply toPoorna66

Thank you! I’m probably being stupid and letting my anxiety get the better of me

Roro1 profile image
Roro1

Hey, not to worry you but that was how my endometriosis was first identified and later diagnosed. I had a scan with someone who thought it was a cyst on my right side which when looked at by a trained surgeon, happened to be a chocolate cyst, he scheduled for a diagnostic lap and on further investigation he found I had stage 4 endometriosis. He said the chocolate cyst was a sign that there could be endo. I was diagnosed with endo attaching my pelvic area to my Fallopian tube and ovaries and stage 4 endo in the POD. My advise get the second scan and get a trained surgeon to look into it.

Moonglo profile image
Moonglo

Hallo. Chocolate cysts are filled with blood and show up differently on a scan to simple cysts, which are generally full of a clear fluid.

BRYAS profile image
BRYAS in reply toMoonglo

She did say it was clear

conlou profile image
conlou

Hey it's only trained surgeons that can identify a chocolate cyst from a simple cyst. It wasnt untill I had an appointment with a gynecologist/Trained surgeon because my Ca125 was raised that he noticed it was a chocolate cyst.

I was told for years it was only a simple cyst, I was in that was pain for years and robbed off it wasnt untill my Ca125

was raised (in the 80s) I was put through the system faster, the surgeon noticed it was a chocolate cyst from ultrasound scan from then I was put in for diagnostic lap 10 days later where they had to remove my left ovary and fallopian tube due to the damage the chocolate cyst. Not to worry you but I would push for either a Ca125 test to get through the system faster or have an appointment with a gynecologist/Trained Surgeon where they can scan you to tell you what type of cyst it really is.

BRYAS profile image
BRYAS in reply toconlou

Hey thank you for the warning.

I was seen by a gynaecologist and she said it was simple, I also had a blood test prior which came back normal.

But I am due back in a couple of weeks to another scan so they can see whether it goes alone or now

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