Ovarian cyst with increased blood flow

[Deandresmom]

I went for an ultrasound today and was told I have a 6cm ovarian cyst. My doctor called it a simple cyst and she didn't seem concerned, she put me on Birth control pills and wants to do another ultrasound in 6 weeks. It is painful during my menses. The ultrasound tech noted increased blood flow to the ovary with the cyst. I have read that could be a sign of malignancy. I guess my question is, if there is increased blood flow to an ovarian cyst does that typically indicate cancer or can benign cysts also have increased blood flow? Any information is greatly appreciated.

[old_before_my_time]

How wonderful of your gynecologist to follow up with Cleveland Clinic and allay your fears! Hopefully, this cyst will "behave" as most do and just go away within the next few months.

[Deandresmom]

My gynecologist called me back last night bc I was so scared, she called a radiologist from the Cleveland clinic and he told her he wouldn't be too concerned as long as the cyst was normal in appearance. He said back in the day the high blood flow was used as an indicator but they are trying to move away from that finding and base it more on the appearance. All I know is that I am a hospice nurse and when the xray tech mentioned the blood flow / potential malignancy, I almost fell off of the table. I go back in 6 weeks for a f/u transvag ultrasound in 6 weeks, my gynecologist is thinking the birth control pills will help to take care of it. Thank you both for your response.

[old_before_my_time]

My understanding is the same as Mct's. There are a number of characteristics that are cause for concern of malignancy. Based on my experience and research, some of those characteristics are the presence of solid matter, thick walls and thick septations, "finger-like" projections, increased vascularity within the cyst, and ascites (fluid in the pelvis). But even most suspicious looking cysts are benign (non-cancerous) in women who do not have a genetic predisposition for ovarian cancer.

Simple cysts are fluid filled, have thin walls, and no or few septations and almost always resolve on their own within a few months.

[Mct30]

I think if there is blood flow within a cyst, then that is a sign of malignancy, but not if it is to just the ovary itself. Your ovary would be quite large with the cyst there at the moment, and that is probably why there is increased blood flow.