A Pilonidal Specialist on Use of the Word “Cyst”

I often see people refer to a pilonidal abscess, a pocket of pus that forms beneath the midline gluteal skin, as a “cyst.” This mislabeling is at the core of much of the confusion surrounding pilonidal disease.

When the problem is misunderstood as primarily that of this “cyst,” many surgeons who are not well-versed in pilonidal disease take the wrong approach. Instead of recognizing that the abscess is simply a symptom of the underlying condition, they aim for an aggressive excision of the “cyst”, removing the pus pocket along with the inflamed overlying skin and a lot of normal surrounding fat, thinking that this will prevent recurrence. Unfortunately, this often leads to failed surgeries and more suffering for patients.

Pilonidal specialists, however, know better. They treat an abscess with a straightforward drainage, often through a tiny incision or even a needle, and then plan a follow-up surgery engineered to cure the disease process that led to the abscess formation at its outset.

Don’t become part of a general surgeon’s learning curve. Learn the difference, understand the disease, and choose a surgeon who specializes in pilonidal care. That’s how you avoid failed operations and finally move toward a cure.