Arachnoid Cyst

 

Arachnoid cysts are formed by the production and accumulation of a fluid similar to cerebrospinal fluid by arachnoid cells on the inside of the membrane by separation of the cerebral membrane called the arachnoid membrane. It is mostly congenital, ie congenital. Its incidence in the community is 5/1000. Arachnoid cysts constitute 1% of all intracranial (intracranial) masses. Although they are frequently located in the brain, they can also be seen around the spinal cord.

 

Arachnoid Cyst Symptoms

 

Symptoms may vary depending on the area of ​​the brain exposed to compression. The symptoms are as follows:

 

• Headache (especially in the morning)

• Epilepsy

• Nausea, vomiting

• Paralysis

• Growth around the head, growth retardation, vision loss, precocious puberty in babies

• Hydrocephalus development

 

Arachnoid Cyst Diagnosis

 

Arachnoid cysts are usually asymptomatic. When they show symptoms, they reach very large volumes in the head. Therefore, they are diagnosed incidentally after an MRI or tomography examination.

Radiologically, the location and percentages of arachnoid cysts in the brain are as follows:

(50-60% is located in the middle fossa region.)

 

• Silvian Fissure 49%

• 11% in pontocerebellar angle

• Supracollicular 10%

• Vermian 9%

• Sellar and suprasellar 9%

• Interhemispheric 5%

• Cerebral convexity 4%

• Klival 3%

 

Arachnoid Cyst Treatment

 

Most of the time, no treatment is needed. It must be followed. Because the cyst can grow over time and start to put pressure on the brain. Treatment is needed when the mass effect increases and the symptoms mentioned above begin to appear. In its treatment,

 

• Draining the cyst by opening a hole in the skull with the burr hole

 

• Removal of the cyst wall with craniotomy and mouthing into basal cystern

 

• The methods that we call endoscopically fenestration are mouthed to the CSF tracts by drilling the arachnoid cyst.

 

• Or, a silicone drain, which we call ventriculoperitoneal shunt, is placed in the cyst and sent under the skin into the peritoneum into the abdomen, and the fluid in the arachnoid cyst is drained.

 

The main purpose of the treatment is to reduce the pressure on the brain and neural structures by shrinking the cyst.

Dr. Tamer Tekin