Arachnoid cysts are fluid-filled sacs located around the brain or spinal cord. They can be primary or secondary and cause symptoms such as headaches, seizures, and numbness. Treatment options include leaving them untreated, CSF drainage, or minor surgery.
Arachnoid cysts are fluid-filled sacs located around the brain or spinal cord in an area called the arachnoid membrane. These anomalies are divided into two categories, depending on the cause: primary and secondary arachnoid cysts. Symptoms of arachnoid cysts can be general or progressive. Treatment may or may not be recommended.
Arachnoid cysts develop in an area underneath the arachnoid membrane, which covers the brain and spinal cord. Sacs can grow between the arachnoid membrane and the brain or spinal cord, although cysts around the temporal lobe of the brain are more common. A typical cyst is composed of collagen and arachnoid cells. For unknown reasons, the conditions are more likely to develop in men than women. Detection of arachnoid cysts usually comes from a brain scan.
The causes of an arachnoid cyst vary, but they typically result from a birth defect or brain injury. Primary cysts include the first type and begin to arise during the development of the embryo in the first weeks of pregnancy. A tear in the arachnoid membrane typically causes this type of cyst. Secondary cysts, on the other hand, result from some type of trauma to the brain, such as direct blows, brain tumors, or surgical complications.
Headache, nausea, dizziness, seizures, and hearing or vision problems may persist as symptoms of arachnoid cysts, especially if the cyst is located around the brain. If a membrane defect softens the brain tissue, porencephaly results. Leaking cysts can also create dangerous pressure within the area of the brain. Some researchers believe that arachnoid cyst syndrome can develop in more severe cases affecting the temporal lobes. The syndrome is characterized by cognitive, emotional and behavioral problems that progress through adulthood.
The manifestation of symptoms can occur in several other areas of the body. If the cyst compresses the spinal cord through syringomyelia, long-term, chronic symptoms may include pain, numbness, and tingling in the back, legs, or arms. These effects are due to an inflammation of the arachnoid membrane called arachnoiditis. An acoustic neuroma can develop on the nerve that runs to the ear, thus affecting hearing. The condition can also impede the pituitary gland, leading to empty saddle syndrome or panhypopituitarism which will negatively affect the functions of the endocrine system.
Treatment options generally come in three varieties. A small cyst that causes no symptoms can simply be left untreated. CSF drainage can relieve symptoms in some cases. Technological advances have also introduced minor surgery as an option, given that the cyst is in a safe and reachable location.
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