A cyst in a newborn

A cyst in a newborn is a pathology that many parents encounter. A cyst is a cavity with walls that contains fluid. Let's look at the features of a cyst in newborns, types of tumors, diagnostic methods, and treatment.

A cyst in a newborn is a pathological disease that is quite common in infants. As a rule, it resolves before the baby is born or by the first year of life. Its appearance may be associated with problems with blood circulation or oxygen starvation of the brain. A tumor in an infant can be detected by ultrasound. All newborns undergo ultrasound diagnostics in the first months of life.

Many types of neoplasms do not have a negative impact on the development of the baby and brain activity. But if the ultrasound reveals a tumor, the baby may suffer from headaches, vision problems and other neurological symptoms. For treatment, you need to see a neurologist. The doctor will conduct a full examination and diagnosis, which will allow you to make a decision on treatment. But regardless of the type of treatment, the newborn must be taken to an ultrasound every month. This is necessary in order to monitor the tendency of the tumor to decrease.

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Reasons

The causes of cysts in newborns are related to the mechanism and process of their formation. There are several types of tumors that occur in newborns. Let's look at the types of tumors and the reasons for their appearance.

• Choroid plexus cyst – a tumor that appears due to infection with the herpes virus. Treatment usually involves surgical intervention.
• Subependymal cyst - Appears due to oxygen starvation, which causes the death of brain tissue, in the place of which the cyst is formed. The tumor does not go away on its own and without surgical treatment can cause problems in the child's development.
• An arachnoid cyst is a tumor that can occur in any part of the newborn's brain. It is treated with surgery (endoscopic surgery, craniotomy, shunt surgery). Without tumor removal, the child will experience developmental pathologies.
• Traumatic cyst – formed due to trauma during the birth process. As a rule, a traumatic cyst contributes to the development of brain tumors, neoplasms of the arms and chest in newborns.

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Symptoms

Symptoms of a cyst in newborns depend on the type of tumor, its location, size and complications (malignancy, inflammation, suppuration). As a rule, if the tumor is small, it does not manifest itself. Let's look at several symptoms that may indicate that a newborn has a cyst at an early stage of development.

• Impaired coordination of movements and delayed reactions.
• Loss of sensitivity in the limbs (temporarily takes away an arm or leg).
• Visual impairment.
• Sharp headaches.
• Sleep disturbance.

Cyst in the head of a newborn

A cyst in the head of a newborn is a kind of capsule filled with liquid. With surgical treatment, there is a high probability that it will not develop into a malignant formation or cancerous tumor. The tumor can occur in any part of the baby's head. The most common types of tumors are:

• Arachnoid - located between the spaces between the brain.
• Intracerebral – occurs in areas of dead brain tissue.
• Congenital – occurs due to a violation of intrauterine development and due to the death of a part of the brain due to asphyxia and other pathologies.
• Acquired – may appear due to a bruise or blow during childbirth, as well as at the site of bleeding or inflammation.

The main symptoms of a cyst in the head of a newborn:

• Neurological symptoms (headaches, sleep disturbances, impaired coordination of movements, tremors of the limbs).
• Hypertonicity or hypotonicity of a muscle group or one muscle.
• Problems with vision and hearing.
• Swelling of the fontanelle.
• Severe vomiting and regurgitation.

Treatment of a cyst in the head of a newborn depends on the symptoms of the disease. Thus, with minimally expressed symptoms, drug treatment is used. With pronounced symptoms, surgical treatment is performed using an operation that allows you to remove the tumor and its membranes. As a rule, the prognosis for the treatment of a cyst in the head is positive for all newborns.

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Brain cyst in newborns

A brain cyst in newborns is a fluid-filled bubble. One or more neoplasms may appear in the brain of a newborn. As a rule, a brain cyst is diagnosed before the baby is born. In almost 90% of cases, the tumor disappears on its own before birth or in the first year of the baby's life. It is much worse if the tumor appears after birth. Since this indicates that the baby was infected during pregnancy or childbirth.

The neoplasm must be treated, since the probability that it will disappear on its own does not always work. But the risks that parents take by refusing to treat a cyst in a newborn can have disastrous consequences. Large tumors are especially dangerous. Since they can change their position, squeezing the surrounding tissues, that is, exerting a mechanical effect on the brain. Because of this, the baby develops seizures, which gradually progress and slow down development. In some cases, a brain tumor leads to a hemorrhagic stroke. Timely medical attention, diagnosis and treatment are the key to a positive outcome of the disease.

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Choroid plexus cyst

A choroid plexus cyst in a newborn is a pathological formation that appears during pregnancy. Choroid plexuses are the first structure in the brain that is visible in the sixth week of the baby's development. There are no nerve endings in the choroid plexus, but despite this, it plays one of the most important roles in the child's development.

Sometimes a choroid plexus cyst can be detected by ultrasound as early as 17-20 weeks of pregnancy. But there is no need to worry, as these formations do not affect the development of the baby. Most neoplasms resolve by 25-38 weeks of pregnancy. This is associated with the active development of the child's brain. If a choroid plexus cyst appears in a newborn after birth, this indicates that the fetus was infected (due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth). Often, the cause of the tumor is the herpes virus.

Subependymal cyst

A subependymal cyst in a newborn is a serious pathology. It is formed due to oxygen starvation or hemorrhage in the ventricles of the brain. In most cases, subependymal cysts resolve on their own, but despite this, the child needs a special course of treatment and a control ultrasound of the brain.

This type of tumor may not increase in size and may not affect the baby's life and development. But there are cases when a subependymal cyst causes a shift in brain tissue, which leads to an exacerbation of neurological symptoms. In this case, immediate surgical treatment is required.

Choroidal cyst

A choroidal cyst in a newborn is a disease of the choroid plexus of the brain. It can appear due to an infection in the body or an injury received during pregnancy or childbirth. This type of tumor must be removed, since the probability that it will resolve on its own is 45%.

Choroidal cyst in a newborn has certain symptoms. The baby has convulsive reactions and twitching, the child is constantly sleepy or restless. The development and formation of the baby is slow, and the coordination of movements is impaired. The tumor can be diagnosed using ultrasound, since the baby's fontanelle has not yet closed. Treatment is carried out both surgically and with drug therapy.

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Arachnoid cyst

An arachnoid cyst in a newborn is a rare anomaly of the brain that occurs in only 3% of newborns. It is located between the surface of the brain and the arachnoid membrane. That is, the membrane of the neoplasm is in contact with the dura mater of the brain, and the inner membrane is in contact with the pia mater.

There are two types of arachnoid cysts. Primary ones are congenital formations, and secondary ones appear due to an inflammatory process or surgical intervention (during the removal of another type of tumor). A primary arachnoid cyst can be diagnosed in the late stages of pregnancy or in the first hours of the baby's life. Most often, such tumors appear in newborn boys, not in girls. An arachnoid cyst in a newborn is accompanied by symptoms such as: headaches, nausea and vomiting, convulsions, mental disorders, hallucinations. It has a positive prognosis and, with proper treatment, will not affect the development of the baby.

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Periventricular cyst

Periventricular cyst in a newborn is a lesion of the white matter of the brain. It is the cause of paralysis in infants. Periventricular cyst manifests itself through the formation of necrotic foci in the periventricular zones of the white matter. The tumor is a type of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Treatment is very complex and involves both drug therapy and surgical intervention. Such tumors rarely resolve on their own. The cause of their appearance may be fetal developmental abnormalities, infectious diseases, pathological processes, and complications during pregnancy.

Subependymal cyst

A subependymal cyst in a newborn baby is a formation in the baby's brain that has a pathological developmental nature. There are several reasons for the tumor to appear. First of all, these are problems with blood circulation and its deficiency in the ventricles of the brain. This causes the death of brain tissue, in the place of which a cavity is formed. After a while, the cavity is filled with a neoplasm, which is a neoplasm.

As for the symptoms, they may not manifest themselves and not affect the development and formation of the baby. But if the tumor interferes with the child's development and causes a number of neurological pathologies, then treatment is required. Treatment involves surgical intervention, drug therapy and observation by a neurologist and neurologist.

Ovarian cyst

An ovarian cyst in a newborn is quite common. This is a functional tumor that does not belong to malignant tumor-like diseases and can resolve on its own without surgical intervention. Often, when conducting an ultrasound examination, it is associated with bowel diseases. But it is very difficult to accurately determine an ovarian cyst on an ultrasound.

Malignant ovarian tumors are extremely rare in newborns. But if the tumor transforms into a malignant tumor, it develops very quickly and has aggressive growth. Treatment of the cyst is carried out with medication.

Spermatic cord cyst

A spermatic cord cyst in newborns is a fluid accumulation in the unclosed vaginal process in the peritoneum, that is, in the membranes of the spermatic cord. In its functionality, it is similar to hydrocele of the testicle. Treatment is similar to the treatment of hydrocele.

Even during pregnancy, the testicle descends through the inguinal canal into the scrotum. Together with the testicle, the peritoneal outgrowth, which forms the inner lining of the testicle, also descends into the scrotum. This outgrowth is absorbed before the baby is born. If it has not been absorbed, it may be confused with an inguinal hernia during diagnostics. Since both a hernia and a tumor have similar symptoms. First of all, this is a small swelling in the groin area and an enlarged scrotum. If such symptoms appear, parents should contact a pediatric urologist-andrologist or surgeon. Treatment involves surgery and observation by a urologist-andrologist.

Testicular cyst

Testicular cysts in newborns are benign tumors that look like a fluid-filled neoplasm in the epididymis. The tumor has a smooth, well-defined soft structure. Testicular cysts can be differentiated from diseases such as: hydrocele, hernia, varicocele.

In order to get an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct diagnostics using ultrasound, general examination and anamnesis. As for the size, it does not exceed 1-2 centimeters and causes discomfort to the baby. Treatment is carried out by surgical intervention. But in newborns, surgery is performed after a year of observation, since there is a possibility that the neoplasm will disappear on its own.

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Cyst on the kidney

A kidney cyst in a newborn does not affect kidney function and may not manifest itself for a long time. It can be determined using an ultrasound examination of the kidneys. Ultrasound will allow you to accurately diagnose the structure of the tumor and the characteristics of the blood supply to the tumor.

Newborns have several types of kidney cysts. There are unilateral neoplasms that arise due to concomitant kidney diseases. And the presence of a cortical cyst in one kidney may indicate that there is a tumor on the other kidney. In addition to ultrasound, newborns undergo duplex scanning, which allows diagnosing malignant tumors. Treatment is carried out using drug therapy methods, but there are cases when neoplasms resolve on their own in the first year of the baby's life.

Spleen cyst

A spleen cyst in a newborn is a cavity filled with fluid. It is not recommended to remove it, as there is a high probability of losing the organ. The spleen plays one of the key roles in the immune system, so treatment is carried out by medicinal methods, that is, taking special medications.

The causes of a spleen cyst in a newborn can be congenital, usually due to embryogenesis disorders. In some cases, false tumors develop, which resolve over time and do not require treatment.

Cyst on the tongue

A cyst on the tongue of a newborn is associated with abnormalities in the development of the thyroglossal duct. Cysts on the tongue are very common. The clinical picture depends entirely on the size of the tumor. So, if the tumor is large and located in front, which interferes with food intake, it must be removed.

As a rule, a cyst on the tongue of a newborn is absorbed in the first months of the baby's life. But if this does not happen, then the treatment method is chosen depending on the characteristics of the tumor localization. For the treatment of cysts in newborns, drug treatment is used, and for treatment in children of primary school age, surgical intervention methods are used, that is, its dissection.

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Cyst in the mouth of a newborn

A cyst in a newborn's mouth is a genetic pathology that can be associated with various infections in the body. There are several types of mucous neoplasms that occur in the oral cavity. These include neoplasms of the tongue, gingival and palatine cysts. Each of them has its own histogenesis.

To determine the cause and decide on its treatment, you need to visit a dentist. The dentist uses various diagnostic methods, for example, ultrasound examination of the oral cavity and X-ray, which allows you to determine the localization of the disease. As for treatment, 90% of newborns have cysts that resolve in the first year of life. Medication is used in cases of extreme necessity. But surgical removal is only possible six months to a year after the baby is born.

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Palatine cyst

Neonatal palatal cysts or Epstein pearls are a normal occurrence that occurs in all babies during the first weeks of life. They disappear on their own within the first month of the baby's life.

Palatal cysts are formed from epithelial inclusions that are located along the fusion lines of the palatine plates. They look like white or yellowish bumps located along the palatine suture. If a histological examination is performed, it can be determined that the tumors contain keratin. A neonatal palatal cyst does not require treatment.

Gingival cysts

Gingival cysts of newborns are formed from the dental plate (ectodermal ligament). The dental plate is the basis for the formation of milk and permanent teeth. The remains of the plate cause the appearance of small gingival tumors. If the neoplasm appears on the gum, it is called a Bohn's node, if the neoplasm develops on the process of the alveolar ridge, it is called gingival.

The cyst looks like a small white or yellowish ball. The neoplasm is absolutely painless and does not cause discomfort or inconvenience to the baby. There is no need to treat such a tumor, as it resolves on its own in the first weeks of the baby's life or disappears when baby teeth appear.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of neonatal cysts depends on the location of the disease. Let's look at the diagnostic methods and in what cases they are used.

• Diagnosis of brain cysts - ultrasound examination of the brain (it is highly effective, since the fontanelle of the newborn is open). Computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also show high accuracy. In case of a neoplasm of the head, diagnostics are used by measuring the pressure of the fundus of the eye and Doppler examination of the vessels of the brain.
• Ovarian, testicular, and spermatic cord cysts – ultrasound, computed tomography, and puncture.
• Kidney and spleen cysts – diagnosis by palpation, ultrasound and computed tomography methods.
• Cysts of the oral cavity (on the tongue, palatine, gingival) – radiograph, visual examination, ultrasound examination if necessary.

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Treatment

Treatment of cysts in newborns depends entirely on the stage of formation, i.e. the development of the tumor, its localization and possible complications. Treatment of the neoplasm is carried out after diagnosis of the disease. As a rule, newborns do not need treatment, since all neoplasms, i.e. neoplasms, are absorbed in the first year of the baby's life.

But if the tumor causes discomfort, anxiety, painful sensations and other symptoms, then it is treated. Treatment is carried out by surgical intervention (rarely) or drug therapy. Treatment of cysts in newborns should be gentle on the body, but effective.

Forecast

As a rule, the prognosis for cysts in newborns is positive. Since many types of tumors resolve in the first year of a baby's life and no longer bother the child. If a brain cyst requires treatment, which is accompanied by negative neurological symptoms, the prognosis depends on the chosen treatment method.

It is worth remembering that the newborn's body and immune system are weakened, so the treatment of the neoplasm is a complex process that requires professionalism, high qualifications and considerable experience from doctors. An accurate prognosis of a cyst in newborns can be obtained after conducting diagnostic methods that allow you to determine the complexity of the neoplasm and whether it poses a threat to the life and health of the baby.

A cyst in a newborn is a benign formation that usually disappears during the first year of the baby's life. Any cystic formation in a newborn requires diagnosis and medical supervision. This will allow the correct treatment to be prescribed, which will be effective and will not harm the child.

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