page_title: Pilonidal disease
section_title: Differential diagnosis
hierarchical_section_title: Pilonidal disease / Differential diagnosis
caption_attribution_description: English: Relative incidence of cutaneous cysts in Pakistan. Reference: &#32;(2020).&#32;"Cutaneous cysts: a clinicopathologic analysis of 2,438 cases". International Journal of Dermatology. DOI:10.1111/ijd.14808. ISSN 0011-9059.
context_page_description: Pilonidal disease is a type of skin infection which typically occurs as a cyst between the cheeks of the buttocks and often at the upper end. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, and redness. There may also be drainage of fluid, but rarely a fever.
  Risk factors include obesity, family history, prolonged sitting, greater amounts of hair, and not enough exercise. The underlying mechanism is believed to involve a mechanical process. The lesions may contain hair and skin debris. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and examination.
  If there is infection, treatment is generally by incision and drainage just off the midline. Shaving the area may prevent recurrence. More extensive surgery may be required if the disease recurs. Antibiotics are usually not needed. Without treatment the condition may remain long term.
  About 3 per 10,000 people per year are affected, and it occurs more often in males than females. Young adults are most commonly affected. The term "pilonidal" means "nest of hair". The condition was first described in 1833.
context_section_description: A pilonidal cyst can resemble a dermoid cyst, a kind of teratoma (germ cell tumor).  In particular, a pilonidal cyst in the gluteal cleft can resemble a sacrococcygeal teratoma.  Correct diagnosis is important because all teratomas require consultation with an oncologist and complete surgical excision, if possible without any spillage.
caption: Relative incidence of cutaneous cysts. Pilonidal cyst is labeled near top.
exif: {"Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)"}