Pilonidal cyst
A pilonidal cyst (from Latin meaning 'hair nest') is a blanket term for any type of skin infection near the tailbone. The term "pilonidal cyst" can be misleading, as a majority of the time, this is actually an abscess. These are typically painful, and normally happen in early adulthood (to the 30's).
Significance
REDdimension Wiki Circle member Kevin McNulty developed a recurring pilonidal cyst in the summer of 1978. He was attending his summer encampment with the Young Marines at the naval gunnery range on San Clemente Island when symptoms first appeared. He was doing sit-ups and when he got up, his friends noticed blood on his shorts in the area of his tailbone. He was diagnosed by a naval physician on the island. Surgery was performed later that summer to remove the cyst. The cyst recurred the following year and a second surgery in the summer of 1979 finally removed the cyst permanently.
Links
- On Wikipedia
- Pilonidal.org Pilonidal Support Alliance
- Pilonidal Disease
- World Wide Wounds - in-depth information on the treatment and symptoms of the condition, with photographs.
- Pilonidal Sinus Self Help Page with patient accounts of treatment.
