steatocystoma
Noun: A steatocystoma is a common, benign (non-cancerous) skin cyst. It is characterized by being filled with a fatty, oily substance called sebum. This occurs when the duct of a sebaceous gland (the gland that produces sebum) becomes blocked.
The word steatocystoma is a medical term. It is used specifically in dermatology (the study of skin) to diagnose and describe this particular type of cyst. * It is typically used in its singular form (steatocystoma) when referring to one cyst. * The plural form is steatocystomas or steatocystomata.
- The dermatologist identified the small bump on the patient's chest as a steatocystoma.
- Steatocystomas are often found on the chest, back, and sometimes the face.
- A biopsy confirmed the lesion was a benign steatocystoma and not something more serious.
- Steatocystoma multiplex: This is a specific condition where a person develops multiple steatocystomas. "Multiplex" indicates the condition involves numerous cysts.
- The patient was diagnosed with steatocystoma multiplex, requiring management of multiple cysts.
- Sebaceous cyst: This is a broader, more general term that is sometimes used interchangeably with steatocystoma, though medically they can have slight differences. A steatocystoma is a specific type of sebaceous cyst.
- Epidermoid cyst: Another common type of skin cyst, often confused with a steatocystoma. An epidermoid cyst is lined with skin cells and filled with keratin, not sebum.
- Sebaceous cyst (general term)
- Follicular cyst
The core meaning of steatocystoma is always a benign skin cyst containing sebum. It does not have different metaphorical or idiomatic meanings outside of medical terminology. The key distinguishing feature from other cysts is its content (sebum) and its origin from a blocked sebaceous gland duct.
- a common cyst of the skin; filled with fatty matter (sebum) that is secreted by a sebaceous gland that has been blocked