Nabothian cyst

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Overview
A nabothian cyst is a mucus-filled cyst on the surface of the cervix. They are most often caused when new tissue growth blocks the nabothian glands of the cervix; this traps mucosal secretions in small (usually 2-10 mm in diameter) subdermal pockets.

Historical perspective
Nabothian cysts are also known as nabothian follicles, mucinous retention cysts, or epithelial inclusion cysts. They are named after German anatomist Martin Naboth (1675-1721), who who wrote about them in a 1707 treatise tiled De sterilitate mulierum. However, they were earlier described by French surgeon Guillaume Desnoues (1650-1735).

Clinical presentation
Nabothian cysts appear most often as firm bumps on the cervix's surface. A woman may notice the cyst when inserting a diaphragm or cervical cap, or when doing the cervix check as part of fertility awareness. A gynecologist may notice the cysts during a pelvic exam.

Diagnosis
Nabothian cysts are considered harmless and usually disappear on their own. Some women notice they appear and disappear in relation to their menstrual cycle. If a woman is not sure the anomaly she has found on her cervix is a nabothian cyst, a visit to a doctor is recommended to rule out other conditions.

Treatment
Nabothian cysts are not considered problematic unless they grow very large and present secondary symptoms. A gynecologist may wish to perform a colposcopy or biopsy on a nabothian cyst to check for cancer or other problems. Two methods for removing these cysts include electrocautery and cryofreezing.

Complication
Rarely, nabothian cysts have a correlation with chronic cervicitis, an inflammatory infection of the cervix.