Woman who ‘looked nine-months pregnant’ has giant cyst removed from ovaries – and it weighed 2 STONE – The Sun

A WOMAN had a giant cyst removed from her ovaries that weighed two stone after doctors said she “looked nine-months pregnant”.

Doctors at the Affiliated Hospital of Xinyang Vocational Technology College in China were astonished when the young woman turned up at the centre with an unexplained swelling in her stomach.

The patient, known only as Ms Wang said she had the swelling for over a decade.

The 20-year-old had previously been given various types of medication, but put off having surgery as she feared she would be left with unsightly scars.

She had put off receiving further treatment due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but was admitted to hospital on May 15.

The doctor treating her, Dr Sun Kang said Ms Wang appeared "nine months pregnant", with scans revealing a large shadow in her abdomen measuring 14 inches long and nine inches wide.

Ms Wang was then diagnosed with a large ovarian cyst which measured four inches and occupied the left side of her abdomen.

It was also discovered that Ms Wang had pelvic inflammatory disease, which causes pockets of infected fluid in abscesses, which resulted in her also having nine litres of pus drained from the cyst.

Dr Sun and colleague Sun Ting were led by department head Jiang Pingping in an operation on 18th May.

WHAT IS A CYST?

A cyst is a fluid-filled bump that forms just underneath the skin. It is common and harmless and can go away without treatment.

However, sometimes they can swell up and require medical treatment. They look like a round, dome-shaped bump and is yellow or whitish in colour.

They don't usually hurt but will become tender, sore and red if they get infected.

Why do they form?

Cells in the top layer of our skin produce a protein called keratin that helps give skin strength and flexibility.

Normal, these cells move up to the surface of the skin as they start to die, so they can be shed.

But sometimes these cells can move deeper into your skin and multiply, forming a sac.

They secrete keratin into the middle of the sac, which forms a thick, yellow paste.

This can ooze out of the cyst if it is burst.

Anyone can get a cyst, but you are more likely to get one if you have gone through puberty, have a history of acne or you have injured the skin.

How are they treated?

If they are small and not bothering you then they can be left alone.

Holding a warm flannel against the skin can encourage it to heal and reduce inflammation. But don't be tempted to pop it because that will increase your risk of infection.

If your cyst is bothering you then it can be cut out by a GP.

They will numb the area with local anaesthetic, make a tiny cut in the skin and squeeze the cyst out.

According to a hospital report from 23rd May, the team opted for a laparoscopy, a surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to access the inside of the abdomen and pelvis without having to make large incisions in the skin. 

This meant the growth could be removed without leaving her with large surgical scars.

Doctors created a small incision on her abdomen and then used a camera and surgical tools to drain the pus.

In order to keep the cyst intact, the medics then inserted a specimen bag and folded the cyst into the packet before retrieving it.

Ms Wang was able to leave her hospital bed and walk on her own just 12 hours after surgery.

She was discharged on 22nd May and is content with having only a minor scar on her abdomen, the hospital said.

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