Marsupialization

Marsupialization is the surgical technique of cutting a slit into a cyst and suturing the edges of the slit to form a continuous surface from the exterior to the interior of the cyst. Sutured in this fashion, the cyst remains open and can drain freely. This technique is used to treat a cyst when a single draining would not be effective and complete removal of the surrounding structure would not be desirable.

The technique often is applied to pancreatic cyst, pilonidal cyst, and Bartholin's cyst.

When due to an error of diagnosis the technique is applied to a dermoid cyst (teratoma) or other tumor, the risk of subsequent tumor recurrence and cancer is much increased.