Cyst of the brain

The cyst of the brain is the common name of benign neoplasms in the structures of the brain.

Most often in neurosurgical practice there are two types of cysts - arachnoid and cerebral formation.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Causes of the brain cysts

The brain cyst in neurosurgical practice is divided into two categories: 

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

• Intrauterine infections. 
• Injury received during labor. 
• Intrauterine inflammatory disease. 
• Viral, infectious disease of a pregnant woman. 
• Congenital agenesis of the site connecting the hemispheres of the brain, pathology of the corpus callosum. 

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

• Infectious meningitis. 
• Neurosurgical operation. 
• The rare genetic disease is Marfan syndrome (pathology of connective tissue). 
• Secondary cyst of the brain, arising in the region of the cicatrix from the primary arachnoid cyst. 
• Complications after strokes. 
• Injuries.

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

• Arachnoidal formation is a cyst of the brain that is filled with cerebrospinal substance - cerebrospinal fluid. 
• 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. 
• Dermoid formation is a cyst of the brain that appears in the first weeks of embryonic development and contains epidermal cells, sweat glands, hair follicles and even calcifications. 
• Pineal formation - cystic formation of the epiphysis.

[5], [6], [7]

Symptoms of the brain cysts

Benign brain neoplasms are rarely manifested by specific symptoms that cause a person to see a doctor. Most often, cysts are revealed in computed tomography, aimed at determining another disease associated with blood circulation and vascular system. Among the possible signs signaling that the cyst of the brain is developing, there may be the following: 

• Sudden headache, not associated with colds, blood pressure changes, other diseases. 
• Feeling of bursting from the inside. 
• Pain, throbbing, spastic, one-sided. 
• Noise, temporary loss of hearing for non-objective reasons. 
• Sensory visual disturbances - a feeling of two objects, suddenly appearing spots before your eyes. 
• Convulsive seizures not associated with epilepsy. 
• Partial paresis of the extremities. 
• Sudden loss of consciousness. 
• Headache, in which it is impossible to raise your eyes up (the cyst of the brain causes hydrocephalus). 
• Sudden drowsiness, tiredness. 
• Impaired coordination when walking. 
• Periodic numbness of the extremities.

Forms

Cerebral cyst of the brain.  Performs a kind of compensatory function, filling the space of the necrotic area, as happens if the brain is subjected to trauma or surgical intervention. Also, a cerebral neoplasm may be a consequence of a stroke or an inflammatory process in the brain tissues. 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 the result of inflammatory processes, less often the result of injuries or hemorrhage. The walls of the cyst consist of cells of arachnoid and collagen, scar tissue. In most cases, the cyst of the brain of the arachnoidal species is localized from the outside of the temporal lobe in the fossa cranii media - the middle cranial fossa.

[8], [9]

Diagnostics of the brain cysts

As a rule, neoplasms do not cause obvious symptoms, characteristic of the cyst of the brain. They are manifested only in case of an increase, so most often they are determined in a comprehensive survey when performing tomography. Computer scanning shows the place where the cystic formation, its parameters and the possible way of access are localized, if an operation becomes necessary.

Also, a complete examination of the circulatory system for possible narrowing of the arteries, veins, the state of cardiac activity is investigated. Analytical studies of blood on clotting are carried out, the level of cholesterol is determined.

[10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]

Treatment of the brain cysts

1. Arachnoidal cystic formation during diagnosis is subject to constant monitoring. If the cyst does not grow and does not interfere with the general state of health, it is not affected, the operation is indicated only with an increase in the tumor. 
2. A colloidal cyst of the brain can provoke hydrocephalus, therefore, in order to avoid the formation of a cerebral hernia or death, it is removed. 
3. Dermoids are removed by surgery. 
4. Epidermoids - a kind of dermoid cyst, which differs from dermoid contents. Diagnosed most often at a young age, removed promptly. 
5. Pineal formation is subject to constant monitoring.

The cyst of the brain is operated most often with sparing methods - either endoscopic or by shunting. The least trepanation is performed if the cyst grows to a large size and there is a threat to the life of the patient.

With cystic education, which does not require surgical intervention, symptomatic therapy and continuous monitoring of the condition of the neoplasm are indicated.