- Sometimes I find that my patients with tailbone pain (coccyx pain, coccydynia) actually have a mass, cyst, tumor, or cancer either within the tailbone itself or in the nearby tissues.
- Examples can include pilonidal cyst, retro-rectal hamartoma (tailgut cyst), chordoma (a type of bone cancer that tends to happen at the coccyx and is often deadly), and abscess (a collection of pus or infected tissue).
- Within an MRI report, or CT scan report, the radiologist who reads the images will typically report the size of any such abnormal structure in centimeters (cm).
- Patients often see the centimeters listed and they will ask me, “Well, how big is that?”
- (Since the United States has not adopted the metric system, many people here are not familiar with thinking about things in centimeter size.)
- I recently came across a medical blog post (link below*) that gives examples of common foods, based on size (as measured by centimeters in diameter).
- This is a great way to visualize how big your mass is, compared to foods that you are already familiar with.
How Big is that Coccyx Mass, Cyst, Tumor, or Cancer?
- Pea = 1 cm
- Grape = 2 cm
- Walnut = 3.5 cm
- Plum = 5 cm
- Tennis ball = 6.5 cm
- Orange = 6.6 cm
- Baseball = 7.5 cm
- Grapefruit = 10 cm
- Cantaloupe = 12 cm
- Honeydew melon = 16 cm
*Reference: http://www.fibroidsecondopinion.com/2013/04/what-size-are-my-fibroids/
That excellent blog post was mostly about the size of uterine fibroids, but the same reference measurements would of course apply for coccyx-related masses.
To come to Dr. Foye’s Tailbone Pain Center:
- Get expert medical care for your tailbone problem. Here’s what you need know: https://tailbonedoctor.com/prepare-for-your-visit/
Tailbone Pain Book:
To get your copy of Dr. Foye’s book, “Tailbone Pain Relief Now!” click on this link: www.TailbonePainBook.com
Book: “Tailbone Pain Relief Now! Causes and Treatments for Your Sore or Injured Coccyx” by Patrick Foye, M.D.
Founder and Director at Tailbone Pain Center
Dr. Foye is an expert at treating tailbone pain (coccyx pain).
His personable, private-practice office is located on a modern, renowned, academic medical school campus, at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
For an appointment, call 973-972-2802.
https://tailbonedoctor.com/
His personable, private-practice office is located on a modern, renowned, academic medical school campus, at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
For an appointment, call 973-972-2802.
https://tailbonedoctor.com/
Latest posts by Patrick Foye, M.D. (see all)
- Coccygectomy: Expected Recovery and Return to Work after surgery for coccyx pain, tailbone pain. - November 28, 2023
- PRP Platelet Rich Plasma or Prolotherapy for Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain - October 25, 2023
- Reasons for Normal X-rays and MRI Despite Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain - October 3, 2023
