A brain cyst

Brain cyst is a general name for benign neoplasms in the structures of the brain.

Most often, two types of cysts are encountered in neurosurgical practice: arachnoid and cerebral formations.

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Causes brain cysts

Brain cysts in neurosurgical practice are divided into two categories:

Primary cysts are usually arachnoid cysts, they are almost all congenital, most often diagnosed in male children. The etiology of congenital cysts can be different:

• Intrauterine infections.
• Trauma sustained during childbirth.
• Intrauterine inflammatory disease.
• A viral, infectious disease of a pregnant woman.
• Congenital agenesis of the area connecting the cerebral hemispheres, pathology of the corpus callosum.

Secondary neoplasms are neoplasms that appear as a result of the following reasons:

• Infectious meningitis.
• Neurosurgical operation.
• A very rare genetic disease – Marfan syndrome (connective tissue pathology).
• A secondary brain cyst that occurs in the area of the scar from a primary arachnoid cyst.
• Complications after strokes.
• Injuries.

A brain cyst is not an oncological disease and is always characterized as a benign neoplasm, which is classified by the type of tissue and structure that forms it:

• An arachnoid formation is a brain cyst that is filled with spinal fluid – cerebrospinal fluid.
• A colloidal formation is a cystic formation that appears at the embryonic stage of development (the second week after conception), when the structure of the central nervous system is formed.
• A dermoid formation is a brain cyst that appears in the first weeks of embryonic development and contains cells of the epidermis, sweat glands, hair follicles and even calcifications.
• Pineal formation is a cystic formation of the epiphysis.

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Symptoms brain cysts

Benign brain tumors rarely manifest specific symptoms that force a person to see a doctor. Most often, cysts are detected during a CT scan aimed at identifying another disease associated with blood circulation and the vascular system. Among the possible signs that signal that a brain cyst is developing, the following may be possible:

• Sudden headache not associated with colds, changes in blood pressure, or other diseases.
• A feeling of distension from the inside.
• Pain, pulsating, spasmodic, one-sided.
• Noise, temporary hearing loss due to non-objective causes.
• Sensory visual disturbances – a sensation of double vision, spots suddenly appearing before the eyes.
• Seizures not associated with epilepsy.
• Partial paresis of the limbs.
• Sudden loss of consciousness.
• Headache that makes it impossible to look up (brain cyst causes hydrocephalus).
• Sudden drowsiness, fatigue.
• Loss of coordination when walking.
• Periodic numbness of the limbs.

Forms

Cerebral cyst of the brain. Performs a kind of compensatory function, filling the space of the necrotic area, this happens if the brain is subjected to trauma or surgery. Also, a cerebral neoplasm can be a consequence of a stroke or an inflammatory process in the tissues of the brain. This type of cyst is always localized inside the brain, in the thickness of its tissues.

Arachnoid cyst of the brain. It is localized between the upper layer of the brain and the arachnoid or arachnoid membrane. This type of neoplasm is most often a consequence of inflammatory processes, less often the result of trauma or hemorrhage. The walls of the cyst consist of arachnoid cells and collagen, scar tissue. In most cases, an arachnoid brain cyst is localized on the outer side of the temporal lobe in the fossa cranii media - the middle cranial fossa.

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Diagnostics brain cysts

As a rule, neoplasms do not cause obvious symptoms characteristic of a brain cyst. They appear only in case of enlargement, so they are most often determined during a comprehensive examination during tomography. Computer scanning shows the location of the cystic formation, its parameters and a possible method of access if surgery is necessary.

A full examination of the circulatory system is also carried out for possible narrowing of the arteries and veins, and the state of cardiac activity is examined. Analytical blood tests for coagulability are carried out, and the cholesterol level is determined.

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Treatment brain cysts

1. Arachnoid cystic formation is subject to constant observation when diagnosed. If the cyst does not grow and does not interfere with the general health, it is left alone, surgery is indicated only if the neoplasm increases.
2. A colloidal cyst of the brain can cause hydrocephalus, so it is removed to avoid the formation of a brain hernia or death.
3. Dermoids are removed surgically.
4. Epidermoids are a type of dermoid cyst that differs from dermoids in their contents. They are most often diagnosed at a young age and are removed surgically.
5. The pineal formation is subject to constant monitoring.

Brain cysts are most often operated using gentle methods - either endoscopic or bypass. Trepanation is performed less often if the cyst grows to a large size and there is a threat to the patient's life.

In the case of a cystic formation that does not require surgical intervention, symptomatic therapy and constant monitoring of the condition of the neoplasm are indicated.