Arachnoid Cysts
Arachoid cysts develop in the areas that separates the brain and spinal cord from the arachnoid membrane. These cysts consist of sacs filled with cerebrospinal fluid and are categorized as primary and secondary. Primary cysts result from developmental abnormalities of the spinal cord and brain and develop in the early weeks of a baby’s development in the womb. Secondary cysts occur as a result of injury, tumors or meningitis. These are not as common as primary cysts. There is a third type of cyst that forms around the spinal cord. Arachnoid cysts form in the middle crania fossa, which is an area located outside the temporal lobe of the brain.
Symptoms of arachnoid cysts depend largely on the size of the cyst. The size will also determine the onset of these symptoms. In most cases symptoms begin within a child’s first year or before 20 years of age. There are individuals who do not develop symptoms at all. There are a wide range of symptoms that occur with arachnoid cysts. They range from the usual such as nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headache, seizures, to problems with hearing and vision. These symptoms are associated with cysts around the brain and can also include vertigo which can cause problems with balance and walking. Individuals with cysts around the spinal cord can develop symptoms that can include numbness, tingling in the arms and legs and increasing back and leg pain.
Diagnosis of arachnoid cysts can be made using an MRI brain scan that is diffusion weighted (also known as a T-2 weighted image.) This helps enhance the arachnoid cysts that are filled with fluid and helps the radiologists to identify if it is another type of cyst. On an MRI image these cysts will appear as a white spot and on a CT the cyst will appear as a dark spot in the brain.
Treatments for these cysts include placing shunts to allow the fluid to drain from the cysts. Advances in neurosurgical techniques and endoscopic tools are giving surgeons the ability to do more non invasive surgical procedures to either remove the cyst or to open the cyst and let the fluid drain into the cerebrospinal fluid, it then can be absorbed by the body. If left untreated these cysts can cause severe and permanent damage to the brain and spinal cord. With treatment symptoms will usually improve or even be completely relieved.
The first image is a T-2 weighted MRI image of an Arachnoid Cyst in a 28 year old female. The second image is an unenhanced CT image showing a large cyst in the left frontoparietal area of a 26 year old male patient.
Arachoid cysts develop in the areas that separates the brain and spinal cord from the arachnoid membrane. These cysts consist of sacs filled with cerebrospinal fluid and are categorized as primary and secondary. Primary cysts result from developmental abnormalities of the spinal cord and brain and develop in the early weeks of a baby’s development in the womb. Secondary cysts occur as a result of injury, tumors or meningitis. These are not as common as primary cysts. There is a third type of cyst that forms around the spinal cord. Arachnoid cysts form in the middle crania fossa, which is an area located outside the temporal lobe of the brain.
Symptoms of arachnoid cysts depend largely on the size of the cyst. The size will also determine the onset of these symptoms. In most cases symptoms begin within a child’s first year or before 20 years of age. There are individuals who do not develop symptoms at all. There are a wide range of symptoms that occur with arachnoid cysts. They range from the usual such as nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headache, seizures, to problems with hearing and vision. These symptoms are associated with cysts around the brain and can also include vertigo which can cause problems with balance and walking. Individuals with cysts around the spinal cord can develop symptoms that can include numbness, tingling in the arms and legs and increasing back and leg pain.
Diagnosis of arachnoid cysts can be made using an MRI brain scan that is diffusion weighted (also known as a T-2 weighted image.) This helps enhance the arachnoid cysts that are filled with fluid and helps the radiologists to identify if it is another type of cyst. On an MRI image these cysts will appear as a white spot and on a CT the cyst will appear as a dark spot in the brain.
Treatments for these cysts include placing shunts to allow the fluid to drain from the cysts. Advances in neurosurgical techniques and endoscopic tools are giving surgeons the ability to do more non invasive surgical procedures to either remove the cyst or to open the cyst and let the fluid drain into the cerebrospinal fluid, it then can be absorbed by the body. If left untreated these cysts can cause severe and permanent damage to the brain and spinal cord. With treatment symptoms will usually improve or even be completely relieved.
The first image is a T-2 weighted MRI image of an Arachnoid Cyst in a 28 year old female. The second image is an unenhanced CT image showing a large cyst in the left frontoparietal area of a 26 year old male patient.
My information came from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders website
The pictures came from the emedicine website.
