Nabothian cyst: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Also written as: cervical cyst, nabothian follicle, cervical retention cyst, mucinous retention cyst

A nabothian cyst is a small, harmless bubble of mucus in the cervix, the lower end of the uterus. These cysts are very common.

What it means

The cervix has glands that make mucus. When surface cells grow over a gland's opening, mucus gets trapped and forms a small bubble. This often follows childbirth or the normal healing of the cervix. On ultrasound these show as round, dark, fluid-filled spots, usually a few millimeters to about a centimeter. On MRI they look bright on T2 images.

When it matters

Nabothian cysts are a normal finding in many women and are not linked to cancer. They need no treatment or follow-up in nearly all cases. Very rarely, a large one causes discomfort or makes an exam harder. Doctors look further only if the cervix shows a solid area or the cysts look unusual, for example with thick walls or blood flow inside.

Questions to ask your doctor

Are these the usual harmless kind, with nothing solid in the cervix?
Do the cysts need any follow-up, or can they be left alone?
Could they explain any discharge or discomfort I have?

General information, not medical advice. What a finding means for you depends on your symptoms, your history and the images themselves, so talk your results through with a doctor.