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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
A pilonidal cyst is an abnormal pocket originating in the skin that usually contains hair, skin debris and other abnormal tissue. A pilonidal cyst is almost always located near the tailbone at the top of the cleft of the buttocks. The term "pilonidal" comes from the Latin words for hair ("pilus") and nest ("nidus").
Pilonidal cysts affect men more often and most commonly occur in young adults.
A pilonidal cyst may remain harmless. If it becomes infected, however, it will cause pain, inflammation and usually drainage of fluids.
- Humphries AE, et al. Evaluation and management of pilonidal disease. The Surgical Clinics of North America. 2010;90:113.
- Sullivan DJ, et al. Pilonidal disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 18, 2010.
- AL-Khamis A, et al. Healing by primary versus secondary intention after surgical treatment for pilonidal sinus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2010:CD006213.
- Pilonidal disease. American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/pilonidal_disease/. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Bullard Dunn KM, et al. Colon, rectum and anus. In: Brunicardi FC, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5015668&searchStr=pilonidal+cyst#5015668. Accessed March 17, 2010.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 22, 2010.
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