Arachnoid cyst and its treatment

The arachnoid cyst is a cerebral cyst, that is, the formation of a cerebrospinal fluid.

Primary, or true, arachnoid cysts are congenital formations. Secondary ones arise in the outcome of the transferred meningitis, agenesis of the corpus callosum, Marfan syndrome, the transferred operation on the brain. In men, arachnoid cysts occur four times more often than women. Often they are localized in the middle cranial fossa, but also the arachnoid cyst of the posterior cranial fossa is not uncommon.

Such cysts are found in about 4% of the population, and symptomatology appears only in 20% of them, most often it is due to the development of secondary hydrocephalus. Often arachnoid cysts are asymptomatic. If they occur, most often up to the age of 20, it should be noted that the severity and even the nature of the symptoms are varied, depend on the size and location of the cysts, which greatly complicates the diagnosis.

Arachnoid cyst can be accompanied by severe headaches, ataxia, nausea and vomiting, hemiparesis, convulsions, mental disorders and so on. The most common predominance of cerebral symptoms, which is due to the development of secondary hydrocephalus, less often - focal symptomatology. The arachnoid cyst, localized in the spinal cord, may have a symptomatic, characteristic hernia of the intervertebral disc.

Identification and differentiation of arachnoid cysts with other types of formations is usually carried out with the help of magnetic resonance imaging, sometimes when examined for another reason, is identified as a "find".

The danger is an increase in the available and the appearance of new cysts, so the doctor must understand and carry out the elimination of the root cause of their occurrence. To do this, it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination of the patient to detect circulatory disorders, autoimmune diseases, infections.

When suspicion of the cyst of the brain is necessary, the following studies should be carried out:

• Magnetic resonance therapy;
• Doppler study, which allows you to detect the stenosis of blood vessels that carry arterial blood to the brain. Due to lack of blood supply, focal death of brain substance and appearance of cysts may occur;
• Research of the heart. Insufficient supply of arterial blood to the brain can be caused by a violation of the heart rhythm or normal functioning of the heart;
• A blood test for cholesterol and clotting. With an increase in cholesterol concentration and clotting of blood, there is a blockage of the brain vessels, as well as the subsequent formation of cysts. With the help of modern medicines, this problem is easily solved;
• Constant monitoring of blood pressure allows you to determine episodic rises, which are a frequent cause of strokes and the occurrence of post-stroke cysts;
• In case of suspected arachnoiditis, neuroinfections, multiple sclerosis, it is necessary to conduct blood tests for autoimmune diseases and infections.

If an arachnoid cyst is identified, treatment may not be necessary. If there is a change in the size of the cyst, there are various manifestations due to its presence, then the disease that determines the development of the cyst is treated first.

The arachnoid cyst is treated promptly in the presence of the following symptoms:

• The presence and progression of convulsive seizures;
• There is an increase in hypertension-hydrocephalic syndrome or focal symptomatology;
• The presence of cysts, which are complicated by hemorrhage.

Removal of arachnoid cysts of the brain is carried out with the help of endoscopic operations (cystocysternostomy), excision of cysts (microneurosurgical operations), shunting operations (cystic peritoneal shunting).