Pilonidal cyst
A pilonidal cyst is a closed sac under the skin at the top of the crease of the buttocks. Pilonidal cysts usually do not cause problems unless they become infected.
The cause of a pilonidal cyst is unclear. They usually occur in men in their late teens through 20s, although they are occasionally noticed at birth as a depression or sometimes as a hairy dimple.
Symptoms of an infected pilonidal cyst (abscess) include:
- Pain.
- Swelling and redness.
- Drainage of pus and/or blood.
- Fever.
If a pilonidal cyst develops a long-lasting or frequently recurring infection, it is called pilonidal disease. Treatment includes surgical drainage or surgical removal.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 25, 2007
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