Can a cyst turn into a tumor?
Jun 23, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Qi Zhirong
Introduction
Common cysts include renal cysts, hepatic cysts, and ovarian cysts. In most cases, cysts are stable, and the cells within them generally do not undergo malignant transformation, thus they do not develop into tumors. In rare cases, however, some long-standing cysts with complex structures or abnormal cytological features may undergo cellular changes and progress to malignant tumors.
Generally speaking, whether a cyst can become a tumor needs to be determined comprehensively based on the nature, type of the cyst, and individual conditions. Detailed analysis is as follows:
A cyst is a benign mass, mostly formed by encapsulation of liquid or semi-solid substances. It is commonly found in areas such as the liver, kidneys, ovaries, and thyroid gland, for example, hepatic cysts and ovarian cysts. Most cysts grow slowly and remain stable, such as simple liver cysts and kidney cysts, which generally do not undergo malignant transformation and have minimal impact on health. They usually require no special treatment and can simply be monitored regularly.
However, certain types of cysts do carry a risk of malignancy, such as pancreatic pseudocysts and borderline ovarian cysts. These cysts may, over a prolonged period, undergo abnormal cellular proliferation due to repeated inflammatory stimulation, genetic factors, or environmental influences, gradually developing into tumors. In addition, if a cyst increases rapidly in size over a short period or causes symptoms such as pain or bleeding, there should be heightened awareness of potential malignant transformation.
Therefore, if abnormal symptoms occur, timely medical consultation is recommended to establish a clear diagnosis and take appropriate measures early, to prevent disease progression.
