Brain cyst

 

A brain cyst is a fluid-filled cavity in the brain. Because the skull cannot expand when the volume of the cyst increases it can cause pressure on the brain tissue.

This causes increased brain pressure and can lead to headaches, vision problems (papillary congestion), drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, epileptic seizures and can even lead to hydrocephalus.

Due to the pressure on the brain, it can lead to loss of function of arms and legs or problems with the coordination of movements or speech disorders. A cyst does not always cause complaints, but it is possible that the cyst is discovered by chance on a scan that is made for a completely different reason. Cysts do not necessarily have to cause complaints throughout life.

 

Increased intracranial pressure can lead to symptoms of:

• headache
  
• vision problems (papillary congestion)
  
• drowsiness
  
• dizziness
  
• nausea and vomiting
  
• epileptic seizures
• hydrocephalus

 

Usually, these are arachnoid cysts that can be present before birth. Arachnoid is the name for the meninges that surround the brain and from which this cyst develops. An arachnoid cyst is a cavity in the brain that is filled with cerebrospinal fluid. This cavity is not connected to the cerebrospinal fluid in the normally present cerebral cavities or to the fluid surrounding the brain tissue.

These cysts can cause complaints at any age, but complants usually arise before the age of ten. This occurs more often in boys than in girls.

An arachnoid cyst can also be the result of a brain tumor, meningitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage.

 

Sometimes there is bleeding in the cyst or the cyst presses on the drainage tubes of the brain cavities, which prevents the cerebrospinal fluid from flowing away properly.
An arachnoid cyst is usually located in the temporal lobe.

 

Other examples of cysts are:

• Dermoid cysts (sometimes contain sebum and hair) + epidermoid cysts. (skin scales), tissue that is the covering layer of the skin
• Colloid cysts in the anterior part of the 3rd ventricle with viscous mucus that the cyst secretes
• Neuroepithelial cysts, tissue that lines the ventricles of the brain.
• Cysts of a craniopharyngioma, tissue with remains when the pituitary gland is formed
• Cysts of a brain tumor, after blood plasma has leaked from a tumor or around it
• Cysts due to the loss of brain tissue; cavities in the brain after brain tissue has been lost due to certain diseases

 

A brain cyst should not be confused with a brain abscess which is a pus-filled cavity in the brain due to an infection in the brain or surrounding tissue.