A hemorrhagic cyst is a functional ovarian cyst, usually a follicular cyst or corpus luteum cyst, that has bled into itself. On ultrasound, a hemorrhagic cyst has a characteristic appearance that evolves over time as the blood clot retracts and lyses. The classic finding is a cyst with fine, lace-like or fishnet-like internal echoes from fibrin strands within the clotting blood, often with a retracting clot visible along the wall. These features are important to recognize because they help distinguish a hemorrhagic cyst from a more concerning solid or complex mass. Most hemorrhagic cysts are self-limiting and resolve within one to two menstrual cycles, and follow-up ultrasound can confirm resolution.
Sonography Term