What is a cervical cyst?

Cervical Nabothian cyst, also known as gynecological cyst or cervical cyst, is a type of chronic cervicitis. During the healing process of cervical erosion, the newly formed squamous epithelium can easily lead to blockage of the glandular duct opening, forming scars that compress the glandular duct, which will hinder the secretions of the gland and cause retention to form a certain cyst. This is also the cause of cervical Nabothian cyst, which is also a great threat to women's health.

The mucus it contains is often clear but may be turbid and purulent due to concurrent infection. The cysts are usually small and scattered and may protrude from the surface of the cervix. The small ones are only the size of millet grains, and the large ones can be as big as corn kernels. They are bluish white in color and may be accompanied by erosion, but they are also common in cervix with smooth surface.

Due to the long-term stimulation of chronic inflammation, the cervical tissue repeatedly becomes congested and edematous, inflammatory cells infiltrate and connective tissue proliferates, causing cervical hypertrophy. In severe cases, the cervix can increase by more than 1 times compared to a normal cervix. Severe inflammation may lead to menstrual abnormalities (frequent menstrual abnormalities are directly related to it) and even infertility, cervical malignant lesions, etc.

The cause of the formation of Nabothian cyst is similar to that of "acne" on the face. During the healing process of cervical erosion, the newly formed squamous epithelium covers the opening of the cervical gland duct or extends into the gland duct, blocking the opening of the gland duct; the connective tissue around the gland duct proliferates or scars form, compressing the gland duct, causing the gland duct to narrow or even block, and the drainage of glandular secretions is blocked. The cyst formed by retention is called cervical Nabothian cyst.

The patient's uterine fundus or posterior wall is bulging and locally cystic, which can be divided into three types: subserosal, intramural and submucosal. If it is a pedunculated submucosal cyst, it can sometimes protrude outside the cervical os. Pathological examination shows that the cyst wall originating from the mesonephric duct is mostly composed of columnar or stratified squamous epithelium, while the cyst wall originating from the paramesonephric duct is mostly formed by ciliated columnar epithelium.

The symptoms of congenital cervical Nabothian cyst are mostly not obvious. Sometimes a lump can be felt in the lower abdomen. The cervical glands have secretory functions and can secrete mucus. They can also be discharged through the glandular duct openings, participating in the formation of some "leucorrhea". During the healing process of cervical erosion, if the new squamous epithelium covers the cervical glandular duct openings or extends into the glandular ducts, it will cause blockage of the glandular duct openings.