Central nervous system cyst
Central nervous system cyst | |
---|---|
Other names | Brain cyst |
A CT scan of an arachnoid cyst | |
Specialty | Medical genetics |
A central nervous system cyst is a type of
Classification
Originating from non-central nervous system tissue
These classification of cysts are embedded in the
- Teratomascysts (containing multiple body tissue types)
- Dermoid(epidermoid/epidermoid tumor)
- Rathke's cleft cysts
- Pineal cysts
- Tumor-associated cysts
- Epithelial cysts that originate from upper respiratory and intestinal tracks.
Originating from the central nervous system tissue
- Arachnoid cysts (Leptomeningeal cysts)
- Ependymal cysts
- Cystic cerebellar astrocytomas[4]
- Colloid cysts
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms are assessed on a case-by-case basis.[5] Some cysts in the CNS can be asymptomatic (producing or showing no symptoms), depending on their location in the brain or spinal cord. If the cysts develop in critical areas of the central nervous system, they can present one or more of the following symptoms:[6]
- Pressure in the spinal cord or brain
- Rupture of nerves around the cyst
- Weakness in specific parts of the body controlled by the cyst-infected brain region
- Inflammation
- Hydrocephalus[7]
- Brainstem hemorrhage
- Seizures[5]
- Visual disturbances and hearing loss
- Headache[6]
- Difficulty with balance or walking[6]
In general, symptoms vary depending on the type of cyst and its location within the CNS.[citation needed]
Causes
Many CNS cysts form in the womb during the first few weeks of development as a result of
Diagnosis
The diagnostic process typically begins with a medical history workup followed by a medical examination by a physician. Imaging tests, such as
Treatment
Treatment is often largely dependent on the type of cyst. Asymptomatic cysts, termed pseudocysts, normally require active monitoring with periodic scans for future growth.[7] Symptomatic (producing or showing symptoms) cysts may require surgical removal if they are present in areas where brain damage is unavoidable, or if they produce chronic symptoms disruptive to the quality of life of the patient. Some examples of cyst removal procedures include: permanent drainage, fenestration, and endoscopic cyst fenestration.[3]
Permanent drainage
A neurosurgeon may open a portion of the body and insert a shunt into cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) filled cysts to allow drainage into CSF pathways. The fluid from the cyst is then drained into the abdomen, the body reabsorbs the fluid (reabsorption of fluid does not cause any harm). This type of surgical treatment is often performed to relieve pressure on the brain from a cyst within the cerebral cortex.[3]
Fenestration
A neurosurgeon performs a craniotomy as a means of entry to access the cyst. The cyst is then opened to release its contents, which are reabsorbed by the brain.[3] This is commonly used with inflammatory cysts located in the ventricles, and can result in increased ventricular fluid flow within the brain.[citation needed]
Endoscopic cyst fenestration
A neurosurgeon performs a same day surgery to insert an endoscope, which drains the cyst internally.[3]
Epidemiology
Cysts derived from CNS tissues are very common in America.[2] They are a subtype of cerebrovascular diseases, which are the third leading cause of death in America.[2] Generally, CNS cysts are present in all geographic regions, races, ages, and sexes.[8] However, certain types of CNS cysts are more prevalent in certain types of individuals than others. Some examples of incidence rates in specific types of cysts include:[1]
- Arachnoid cysts are more prevalent in males than females
- Colloid cysts are more prevalent in adults
- Dermoid cysts are more prevalent in children under 10 years of age
- Epidermoid cysts are more prevalent in middle-aged adults
References
- ^ a b Schiff, David (June 2010). "Cysts" (PDF). American Brain Tumor Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ S2CID 35936716.
- ^ Arachnoid cysts. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- PMID 27319312.
- ^ a b c Sundaram C, Paul T R, Raju B V, Ramakrishna Murthy T, Sinha A K, Prasad V S, Purohit A K. Cysts of the central nervous system : a clinicopathologic study of 145 cases. Neurol India [serial online] 2001 [cited 2017 Apr 11];49:237. Available from: http://www.neurologyindia.com/text.asp?2001/49/3/237/1247
- ^ a b c "Brain Cyst". www.saintlukeshealthsystem.org. June 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-04-13. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
- ^ a b c d "Brain and spinal cord cysts - Canadian Cancer Society". www.cancer.ca. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
- ^ "Arachnoid Cysts - NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders)". NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). Retrieved 2017-04-27.